^Oo^ 






,A 



."=> ^ 
V <>.. 









.*'■% 



%. 



'^,. .-^^ 



-^S*^ 























ci- 














~ A •: 










V^^' 




% 


-oo^ 


^''\ 




x^ 


a 






.- -^c^ 


^ «i. ■'T' . 









^ •^. /^^ 



-S 



% ' 



S-' 



^ ■i!^^\ N 









..^ " 






V^\ ^'' v>^ 









.0^^^ 



V- y 



^^^■^^ ,^^ ^/>- 



\ 









aH X,. 



■J'-.. 


.v\^" 




n N 


'■ * 








'J- \ 



oo 



■ S^ -5^. 



v*^ 




I 






Uait'^ 







9 




(ll- 



LIFE 



AND CAMPAIGNS 



GENERAL PiOBERT E. LEE. 



JAMES D. McCABE, Jr. 



WITH STEEL PLATE AND MAPS. 



(iBSued by subscription only, and not for aale in the book stores. Residents of any State in the 
Union desiring a copy should address the publishers, and an agent will call upon them.) 




NATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY, 

ATLANTA, GA. ; PIIILABF.LPIIIA, PA.; CINCINNATI, OHIO ; ST. LOUIS, MO 

BLELOCK & CO., NEW YORK. 



■ LUhi 



Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1866, by 

Blelock and Compant, 

in the Clerk's OflSce of the District Court for the Southern District of New York, 



PREFACE. 



I HAVE been led to the preparation of this work by a desire to collect 
in a useful and convenient form a history of the achievements of the great 
soldier, recently at the head of the armies of the South ; and as he is 
endeared to his countrymen chiefly by his connection with them in the gal- 
lant struggle -which has just closed, I have devoted the greater part of these 
pages to that portion of his life, passing over the preceding with as little 
delay as possible. 

I have brought to the execution of this task a sincere desire to lay aside 
the feelings engendered by four years of war, and to investigate fully, and 
discuss impartially and truthfully, the topics that are presented in this 
volume. I have spared no pains to render my sources of information as 
complete as possible. In May 1861, I commenced to collect such papers 
and documents, both official and unofficial, relating to the war, as I could 
procure. To this task, begun for a purpose not altogether different from 
that to which I have now applied it, I devoted the entire period of the 
war, and was aided in it by many members of the various brandies of the 
Confederate Government and of the army. In this way I secured an 
extensive and valuable collection of materials for a history of the war, or 
biographies of the individuals connected with it; a collection embracing 
over fifteen thousand papers of all kinds, to which, through the kindness 
of friends, I have been able to add many valuable maps and charts. Since 
the close of the war I have greatly enlarged this list by the addition of the 
reports and official papers of the United States Commanders and Govern- 

(3) 



4 PREFACE. 

ment. These sources of information, to which I may add a personal 
observation of the greater part of the war, have enabled me to make my 
book more complete than it would have been had my material been less 
extensive. I have also derived much assistance from the very valuable 
work by Mr. William Swinton, entitled " The Campaigns of the Army of 
the Potomac.'''' 

I have sought to present a fair and dispassionate narrative of the events 
of the late war, to praise where praise was due, and censure where I 
thought it deserved. It is for my readers to decide whether I have 
succeeded or failed, but I trust that, whatever may be their decision, they 
will at least do me the justice to believe that I have recognized the 
responsibility of the task I have undertaken, and have honestly tried to do 
my duty. 

I take this opportunity of returning my thanks to the friends who have 
aided me in the collection of materials; to Mr. S. W. Clifford, of Boston, 
for valuable maps received from him ; and to the publishers for the generous 
and constant encouragement they have held out to me since the enterprise 
was begun. 

J. D. McC. Jr 



CONTENTS. 



I. 



EARLY LIFE. 



I. The Lee Family, 
n. Life Previous to the War, 



9—14 

15—26 



n. 

THE FIRST DAYS OP WAR. 

L Col. Lee Leaves the Federal Armt, . . . 27 — 31 

n. General Lee Commands the Army in Virginia, . 32 — 39 

in. The Campaign in Western Virginia, . . . 40 — 47 

IV. General Lee Commander-in-vChieFj .... 48 — 50 



m. 

THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN. 

I. "Matters at Centreville, 
n. The Federal Plan of the Campaign, 
in. General Johnston Falls Back, 
IV. The Move to the Peninsula, . 
V. A Good Fight, .... 
VI. The Siege of Yorktown, 
Vn. The Retreat up the Peninsula, 

(5) 



51 — 61 
62—69 
70—73 
74—76 

77— 8i 
82—87 
88—92 



CONTENTS. 



vin. 

IX. 

X. 

XI. 

xn. 
xm. 

XIV. 
XV. 

x^t:. 

XVII. 

XVIII. 

XIX. 



Dark Days, 93—96 

Seven Pines 97 — 105 

A Change OF.CoiMMANDERS, 106 — 112 

The Ride Around McClellan, .... IIS— 120 
General Lee's Plan OF Operations, . . .121 — 124 

Mechanics viLLE, 125 — 132 

Cold Harbor, 133 — 143 

Savage Station 144—148 

Frazier's Farm 149—156 

IMalvern Hill, 157—161 

The End of the Pursuit, 162 — 169 

The Close of the Campaign, 170 — 174 



IV. 



THE CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. 



I. General Pope in Virginia, 
n. Cedar Run, 

ni. The Advance to the Rappahannock, 

rv. Jackson's Flank March, . 
V. What Pope Found in His Rear, 

VI. The Second Battle of Manassas, . 
Vn. Ox Hill, 



. 175—192 
. 193—198 
. 199—205 
. 206—210 
. 211—217 
. 218 — 226 
. 227—232 



V. 

THE INVASION OF THE NORTH. 

I. Over the Border, 233 — 241 

II. The Capture OF Harper's Ferry, . . . .242 — 247 

III. South Mountain, 248—258 

IV. Sharpsburg, 259—270 

V. The Retreat Across THE Potomac, .... 271 — 275 

VI. A Season of Rest, 276—283 



CONTENTS. 7 

VI. 

THE FREDERICKSBURG CAMPAIGN. 

I. McClellan Advances, 284 — 296 

n. The Movement TO THE Rappahannock, . . .297 — 302 

m. Waiting FOR BuRNSiDE, 303 — 307 

IV. Fredericksburg, . 308 — 324 

V. Winter Quarters, 325 — 335 

vn. 

THE CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN. 

I. The Campaign Opens, 336—338 

n. Hooker Advances, 339 — 345 

in. Chancellors VELLE, 346 — 357 

IV. Marte's and Salem Heights 358 — 367 

vm. 

THE SECOND INVASION OF THE NORTH. 

I. Preparations FOR AN Advance, 368 — 370 

n. The March to the Potomac, 371 — 378 

in. In the Enemy's Cotjntrt 379 — 386 

rV. Gettysburg, 387 — 404 

V. The Retreat into Virgdwa 405 — 413 

EX. 

THE SECOND CAMPAIGN EST NORTHERN VIRGINIA. 

I. The Expedition to Manassas, 414 — 423 

n. Mine Run, 424—429 

ni. Winter Quarters, 430 — 446 



CONTENTS. 



THE OVERLAND CAAIPAIGN. 

I. Preparations for the Campaign, 
n. The Wilderness, .... 

TTT . Spottsylvania Court House, . 

IV. The March to the Chickahominy, . 
V. The Second Battle op Cold Harbor, 

VI. The Campaign ik the Valley, . 

VU. The Campaign on the South Side, . 



. 447—450 
. 451—464 
. 465—474 
. 475 — 481 
. 482—489 
. 490—492 
. 493—600 



XI. 

THE SIEGE OF PETERSBURG. 

I. Grant Crosses THE James River, . . . ,501 — 504 

n. The Siege Begun, 505 — 514 

m. Burnside's Mine, 515 — 520 

IV. Matters North and South of the James, . . 521 — 542 

V. The Valley Campaign, 543 — 566 

VI. Winter Quarters, 667 — 579 



xn. 

THE LAST STRUGGLE. 

I. General Lee Commander-in-Chief, .... 680 — 584 

n. Fort Steadman, 585 — 590 

HI. Grant Moves to the Left, 591 — 600 

IV. Five Forks AND Petersburg, 601 — 607 

V. The Evacuation OF Richmond AND Petersburg, . 608 — 613 

VI. The Last Retreat 614—624 

VIL The Surrender, 626—637 

NOTES, 638 — 701 



LIFE AND CAMPAIGNS 



GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE. 



I. 

EARLY LIFE. 

I. 

THE LEE FAMILY. 

This family, which has given so many great men to America, 
is of ancisnt and honorable descent. As early as the year 
1333, we are informed by an old manuscript,* that Johes de 
Lee, a soldier, received lands from one Hugo de Hinton. The 
son of this Johes de Lee was Robertus de la Lee, and he mar- 
ried Margarita, daughter and heiress of Thomas Astley, of 
Nordley, about the year 1400. Later still, Ave find the name 
of Thomas Lee, of Cotton, in King's Nordley, in the Parish 
of Alvely, who was the son of Johannes Lee.f 

Later still, ia the reign of Charles 1, of England, the Lee 
Family were located in the County of Shropshire, and were of 

* This MS. is written in Latin, and its authenticity is well established. The 
pedigree which it contains was extracted from the London Tower, and is 
certified by Charles Tswnley, York, and John Pomfret, Rouge Croix, August 
1, 1750. 

t The Pedigree of the Lee Family. Pablished in the Richmond .Dispateh, 
January 7, 1865. \ 

2 \ (9) 

\ 



10 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

the Cavalier stoik. One of these, Eichard Lee, a gentleman 
of good position and many accomplishments, determined to 
emio'rate to the New World, concerning which such marvelous 
tales were being told in the mother country. Bishop Meade 
says of him, " He was a man of good stature, comely visage, 
enterprising genius, a sound head, vigorous spirit, and generous 
nature. "When he got to Virginia, which at that time was not 
much cultivated, he was so pleased with the country that he 
made large settlements there with the servants he carried ever." 
He came to the colony as Secretary, and member of the King's 
Privy Council. He made several voyages back to England, 
and finally settled in that part of Virginia lying between the 
Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers, known as the Northern 
Neck. He was for a long time the Secretary of the Colony, 
under Sir William Berkeley, and exercised a marked influence 
upon the course which it pursued in the great Revolution which 
made Cromwell master of England. Lee was a thorough roy- 
alist, and, together with the Governor, held the colony firm in 
its allegiance to " Charlie over the water." He was prominent 
in negotiating the treaty between Virginia and the Common- 
wealth of England, which was so honorable to the colony, and 
which recognized it as an independent State, and on the death 
of Cromwell, he induced Governor Berkeley to hsve Charles II 
proclaimed " King of England, Scotland, France, Ireland, and 
Virginia," two years before the Restoration. In consequence 
of this step, the ancient motto of Virginia Tvas, " En dat 
Virginia quintam," changed after the union of England and 
Scotland to " En dat Virginia quartam." 

Richard Lee died, and was buried in Virs-inia. He left two 
sons, John and Richard. John was educated at Oxford, and 
was so accomplished that he was offered a fine opening in the 
Church, with the prospect of an advancenent ; but the oiFer 
was declined, as it was his father's wish thxt he should settle in 
Virginia. He died before his father. 



THE LEE FAMILY. 11 

Richard Lee, the son, was a man of great learning. He 
passed his life in study, writing his notes habitually in Greek, 
Plebrew, or Latin. Some of these are now preserved in Vir- 
ginia. He was a member of the Council, and held other posts 
of honor and emolument. He married a Miss Corbin, of 
England, and died about the year 1690, leaving five sons, 
Richard, Philip, Francis, Thomas, Henry, and one daughter, 
who married William Fitzhugh, of Eagle's Nest, King George 
County, Virginia. 

Of the sons, Richard, the eldest, went to England, as a 
Virginia merchant, and became the partner of his maternal 
uncle, Thomas Corbin. He married in England, and had three 
children, one son and two daughters, who came back to Vir- 
ginia. Philip Lee, the second son, settled in Maryland, and 
left a numerous progeny. Francis, the third son, died a bach- 
elor ; Thomas, the fourth son, married Miss Hannah Ludwell, 
a lady of fine family. The fifth son, Henry Lee, I will notice 
further on. 

Thomas Lee, the fourth son of Richard Lee, was, in many 
respects, a remarkable man. By his marriage he allied him- 
self with the Ludwells and the Grymes, two wealthy and 
influential families. He was a man of much learning, the 
greater part of which he taught himself, and eventually, though 
a younger son, became possessed of a large fortune. He soon 
acquired a leading position in the colony, and was made Pres- 
ident of the Council, which post he held many years, until his 
death. He became impressed at an early day with the idea 
that the western part of the colony would be settled at some 
future time by a thriving community, and employed an engineer 
of note to explore the lands in that section, especially tliope 
bordering the Ohio River. While President of the Council, 
he declared to a friend that the colonies would, of necessity, 
eventually be independent of Great Britain, and predicted that 



12 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. » 

*' the seat of Government would be located near the Little 
Falls of the Potomac River," where he soon after acquired 
large tracts of land, which were, within the present century, 
the property of his descendants. He resided at Stratford, but 
his niant^ion was destroyed by fire. He at once set about 
rebuilding- it, and so greatly was he esteemed in the colony 
and in Enfi^land, that the Government and merchants alike, 
and, it is said, even Queen Cai'oline, contributed to defray the 
cost of the structure. Of this edifice Mr. Lossing says, 
"There is no structure in our country to compare with it. 
The walls of the first story are two and a half feet thick, and 
the second story two feet, composed of brick imported from 
England. It originally contained about one hundred rooms. 
Besides the main building, there are four offices, one at each 
corner, containing fifteen rooms. The stables are capable of 
accommodating one hundred horses. Its cost was about 
$80,000."* 

Thomas Lee died in 1750, and left six sons and two daugh- 
ters. The eldest son, Philip Ludwell Lee, married a Miss 
Steptoe, and by her had two daughters, of whom Matilda, the 
elder, married her second cousin, Colonel Henry Lee, (the 
father of General R. E. Lee.) 

The second son of Thomas Lee was Thomas Ludwell Lee. 
The third son was Richard Henry Lee, the great champion of 
American Independence. He was born on the 21st of January, 
1732, and died June 19, 1794. He it was who on the 7th of 
June, 1776, ofifered, in the Continental Congress, the famous 
resolution, " that these united colonies are, and of rifjht ought 
to be, free and independent States ; that they are absolved from 
nil allegiance to the British Crown, and tliat all political connec- 
tion between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought 
to be, totally dissolved." The fourth son of Thomas Lee was 

* Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution. Part II, p. 217. 



THE LEE FAMILY. 13 

Francis Lightfoot Lee, born October 14, 1734, died in April, 
1797. He was, like his brother, Richard Henry, one of the 
signers of the Declaration of Independence. The fifth son was 
William Lee, who settled in London, The sixth son was 
Arthur Lee, who, says Bishop Meade, " as a scholar, a writer, 
a philosopher, a politician, and a diplomatist, was surpassed by 
none, and equalled by few, of his contemporaries. The ser- 
vices rendered by him to his country, as her minister, at foreign 
coui'ts, were most valuable." 

I must now return to Henry Lee, the fifth son of Richard 
Lee, the ancestor of the subject of this memoir. He married a 
Miss Bland, and had several children. His third son, Henry, 
married a Miss Grymes, and by her had five sons and three 
daughters, viz., Henry, the famous soldier of the Revolution, 
Charles, Richard Bland, Theodoric and Edmund, and Mary, 
Lucy, and Anne. 

Henry Lee, the eldest son, was born January 29, 1756. He 
was educated at first by a private tutor at home, and then sent 
to Princeton College, then under the charge of Doctor Wither- 
spoon, where he graduated in 1774. In 1776 Patrick Henry 
nominated him to the command of a cavalry company raised in 
Virginia, for service in the Continental army, under the general 
command of Colonel Bland. In 1777 Lee's corps was placed 
under Washington's immediate control, and under the energetic 
leadership of its young captain, acquired a high reputation for 
discipline and efficiency. Lee was made a Major, and his 
legion performed many daring exploits. In July 1779, he 
captured a British fort at Paulus Hook, (Jersey City,) for 
which he received from Congress, the thanks of that body, and 
a gold medal. In November 1780, he was made Lieutenant- 
Colonel, and early in 1781 joined General Greene in the Car- 
olinas, where he increased his already brilliant renown. 

About the beginning of 1782, after the battle of Eutaw 



14 LIFE OF GENEEAL LEE. 

Springs, Colonel Lee returned to Virginia, and married his 
second cousin, Matilda, daughter of Philip Ludwell Lee, Esq., 
of Stratford, where he resided with his father-in-law. In 1786 
he was elected to a seat in Congress. In 1791 he was chosen 
Governor of Virginia. In 1794 he was appointed by Wash- 
ington, his warm friend and admirer, to command the troops 
sent to quell the Whiskey Insurrection in Pennsylvania. In 
1799 he was a member of Congress, and was chosen by that 
body to pronounce a funeral oration on the death of Washing- 
ton, in the House of Representatives. He prepared the ora- 
tion, but being imperatively called awa}^, it was delivered by 
his friend, Judge Marshall. In 1801 General Henry Lee 
retired to private life, being much straitened in liis pecuniary 
resources.. His first wife bavins^ died, he married ao-ain — this 
time, Anne, daughter of Charles Carter of Shirley (on James 
River, opposite City Point). In 1809 he wrote his Memoirs 
of the War in the Southern Department, which is justly 
regarded as a model work of its kind. In 1814 he was seri- 
ously wounded while endeavoring to put down a riot in Balti- 
more, and from the injury thus received, he never recovered. 
In 1817 he went to the West Indies for his health, but failino^ 
to find relief there, returned home. On his way to Virginia, 
he stopped on the coast of Georgia, to visit Mrs. Shaw, a 
daughter of his friend, General Greene, and there died on the 
25th of March 1818, at the age of 62 years. 

General Henry Lee had four sons and three daughters. His 
first wife bore him Henry Lee, noted for his literary abilities, 
and a daughter, Lucy ; and his second wife bore him Charles 
Carter, Robert Edward, and Sidney Smith, (Conunodore Lee, 
of the C. S. Navy, and father of General Fitz Lee,) and two 
daughters, Anne and Mildred. 



LITE PREVIOUS TO THE WAR. 15 



II. 

LIFE PREVIOUS TO THE WAR. 

Robert Edward Lee was born at Stratford, AVestmoreland 
County, Virginia, on January 19, 1807, in the same room 
where Richard Henry and Francis Lightfoot Lee were born. 

His early life was passed in the Northern Neck, and a part 
of it amid the stirring events of the second war wdth England. 
The British land and naval forces were for a considerable period 
within a few miles of his home. A British fleet, under Admiral 
Cockburn, ravaged the shoi-es of the Chesapeake, and on the 
29th of August 1814, the city of Alexandria, then in the Dis- 
trict of Columbia, was captured by the enemy's vessels, and 
soon after, a part of Maryland, and Washington City were 
occupied. These events occurring so near the home of young 
Lee, could not fail to exercise a marked influence upon him. 

When he was twelve years old his father died. In 1825,' 
Robert Lee entered the Military Academy at West Point. 
There he remained four years, graduating in 1829. From the 
first he rose to the head of his class, and retained this " stand " 
until he left the Academy. During his whole course lie never 
received a demerit, and was never reprimanded. This will be 
better appreciated by those who understand the demerit system 
than by the general i*eader, for the former will readily compre- 
hend how much it is in the power of the Cadet and Academic 
officers to give demerits to those who least deserve them. The 
freedom of young Lee from those marks, is a striking proof of 
the high esteem in which he was held by his comrades. He 
was noted for his studious habits, and exemplary conduct ; he 



16 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

never drank intoxicating liquors, used tobacco, or indulged in 
any of the petty vices so popular with young men. 

On the 4th of July 1829, Robert E. Lee was graduated first 
in liis class, and received the appointment of Brevet-Second 
Lieutenant in the corps of Topographical Engineers, to which 
branch of the service the most distinguished graduates of the 
West Point Academy are assigned. 

After a brief furlough, Lieutenant Lee entered upon the 
duties of his profession, being employed for several years 
upon the coast defences of the United States. In 1835 he was 
appointed assistant astronomer for the demarcation of the 
boundary line between the States of Ohio and Michigan. 

In 1832, Lieutenant Lee married Mary, daughter of George 
Washington Parke Custis, and grand-daughter of the wife of 
Washington. By this marriage the young officer became at a 
subsequent period the proprietor of Arlington House, in Alex- 
andria County, Virginia, opposite Washington City, and of 
the White House on the Pamunkey River, the scene of the 
marriage of AVashiugton with " the widow Custis," which was 
wantonly burned by the Federal army in 1862. Three sons 
and four daughters were the fruits of this marriage, namely: 
George Washington Custis, William Henry Fitzhugh, and 
Robert Edward, and Mary, Anne, Agnes and Mildred. The 
first and second sons were Major-Generals in the Confederate 
army, and the youngest entered the service as a private, and 
was promoted to a staff appointment. One of the daughters, 
Anne, died during the war. 

On the 21st of September 1836, Robert Lee was made Fu'st 
Lieutenant, and in July 1838, Captain of Engineers. In 1844 
he was a member of the Board of Visitors to the West Point 
Academy, and in 1845 a member of the Board of Engineers. 

The Mexican War now broke out, and Captain Lee was 
assigned to the Central army in Mexico, as Chief-Engineer 



LIFE PREVIOUS TO THE WAR. 17 

under General Wool, which position he held throughout the 
whole campaign under General Scott. 

Early in the year 1847, General Scott commenced to collect 
forces on the island of Lobos for an expedition against the city 
and castle of Vera Cruz. On the 9th of March 1847, the 
American array landed near Vera Cruz, and the next day began 
the investment of the city. The Avork was commenced by 
General Worth, and was carried on successfully. Batteries, 
were erected by the engineers at points commanding the city, 
and armed with siege and naval guns. The bombardment 
began on the 22d of March, and in a few days the town and 
castle surrendered. 

Captain Lee rendered important service during the sieo-e. 
General Scott, quick to appreciate his military genius, at an 
early day selected him to be one of his personal staff, and 
always sought his opinion in the Council, attaching great weight 
to it, and we have, in the recently published autobiography of 
the veteran soldier, his own testimony regarding the valuable 
aid which he received from Lee. Referring to his first council 
at Vera Cruz, he says : 

"In my little Cabinet, hovfever, consisting of Colonel Totten, 
Chief Engineer ; Lieutenant-Colonel Hitchcock, Acting In- 
spector General; Captain R. E. Lee, Engineer; and First 
Lieutenant Henry L. Scott, Acting Adjutant General, I entered 
fully into the question of storming parties and regular siege 
approaches. A death-bed discussion could hardly have been 
more solemn." Concerning the service rendered by Captain 
Lee, during the siege, he says: "I am compelled to make 
special mention of Captain E,. E. Lee, Engineer. This officer 
greatly distinguished himself at the siege of Vera Cruz." 

After the surrender of Vera Cruz, the American army ad- 
vanced towards the City of Mexico. The enemy made a stand 
at Cerro Gordo, and on the 18th of April, after a hard fought 
3 



18 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

battle, Scott was again victorious. Concerning the part borne 
by Captain Lee in this engagement, the Old Soldier writes;: 

" Hearing that Twiggs, supported by Patterson, found him- 
self confronted at Plan del Rio, some fifty miles in the interior, 
by a strong body of the enemy, and that both divisions were 
desirous of my presence, I left Vera Cruz on the 12th of April, 
with a small escort of Cavalry, under Captain Philip Kearney, 
(who fell in 1862, a distinguished Major General) , and has- 
tened to the front. Major-General Patterson, though quite 
sick, had assumed the command on joining Twiggs, in order to 
prohibit any aggressive movement before my arrival, according 
to the universal wish of the troops. No commander was ever 
received with heartier cheers, — the certain presage of the 
victories that followed. 

" The two advanced divisions lay in the Valley of the Plan 
del Rio, and the body of the enemy about three miles oiF, on 
the heights of Cerro Gordo. Reconnoissances were pushed in 
search of some practicable route, other than the winding, zigzag 
road among the spurs of mountains, with heavy batteries at 
every town. The reconnoissances were conducted with vigor 
under Captain Lee, at the head of a bod}^ of pioneers ; and, at 
the end of the third day, a passable way for light batteries was 
accomplished, — without alarming the enemy, — giving the pos- 
sibility of turning the extreme left of his line of defence, and 
capturing his whole army, except the reserve, that lay a mile or 
two higher up the road. Santa Anna said that he had not 
believed a goat could have approached him in that direction. 
Hence the surprise and the results were the greater. 

' ' The reconnoissance begun by Lieutenant Beauregard was 
continued by Captain Lee, Engineer, and a road made along 
difficult slopes, and over chasms, out of the enemy's view, 
though reached by his fire when discovered — until arriving at 
the Mexican lines, further reconnoissances became impossible 



LirE PREVIOUS TO THE WAR. 19 

T^ithout action. The desired point of the debouchure, the 
Jalapa road, was not, therefore, reached, though believed to be 
within easy distance ; and to gain that point it now became 
necessary to carry the heights of Cerro Gordo. ****** 
Twiggs' division, reenforced by Shield's brigade of volunteers, 
was thrown into position on the 17th, and was of necessity, 
drawn into action in taking up ground for its bivouac, and the 
opposing heights for a heavy battery. It will be seen that 
many of our officers and men were killed or wounded in this 
sharp combat — handsomely commenced by a company of the 
Seventh Infantry, under brevet First Lieutenant Gardner, who 
was highly praised by all his commanders for signal services. 
Colonel Harney, coming up with his brigade, brushed away the 
enemy, and occupied the heights, on which, in the night, was 
placed a battery of one 24-pounder and two 24-pound howitz- 
ers, under the superintendence of Captain Lee, Engineers and 
Lieutenant Hagner, Ordnance. These guns opened next morn- 
ing and were served with effect by Captain Steptoe, and 
Lieutenant Brown, Third Artillery ; Lieutenant Hagner, Ord- 
nance ; and Lieutenant Seymour, First Artillery. 

«« * * I am compelled to make special inention of Captain 
R. E. Lee, Engineer. This officer * * was again indefati- 
gable during these operations in reconnoissances, as daring as 
laborious, and of the utmost value. Nor was he less conspic- 
uous in planning batteries, and in conducting columns to their 
stations, under the heavy fire of the enemy." * 

From Cerro Gordo the army pushed on towards the Capital. 

♦During one of these reconnoissances Captain Lee ventured so far from his 
supporting column, (Loring's Rifles,) that he found himself right in among 
the enemy. He hastily concealed himself under a fallen tree, near a spring 
where the Mexicans obtained their supply of water. While he lay there, 
Mexican soldiers passed and repassed over the tree, and even sat down on it, 
utterly unconscious of his presence. He remained until darkness enabled 
him to withdraw in safety. 



20 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

The direct road to the city had been well fortified, but these 
defences were skilfully turned by the Americans, and the battles 
of Contreras, Cherubusco, Molinos del Eey, and Chapultepec 
placed the city of Mexico in the hands of the victors. I have 
only room to notice the distinguished part played in these 
enoageraents by Cajjtain Lee, and for this I shall again employ 
the narrative of General Scott. He writes : — 

<'The same day (August 18, 1847,) a reconnoissance was 
commenced to the left of San Augustine, first over difficult 
grounds, and further on over the same field of volcanic matter 
which extends to the mountain, some five miles from San An- 
tonio, towards Magdalena. The reconnoissance was continued 
to-day by Captain Lee, assisted by Lieutenants Beauregard and 
Tower, all of the Engineers, who were joined in the afternoon 
by Major Smith, of the same corps. Other divisions coming 
up, Pillow was advanced to make a practicable road for heavy 
artillery, and Twiggs thrown farther in front to cover the opera- 
tions ; for, by the partial reconnoissance of yesterday. Captain 
Lee discovered a large corps of observation in that direction, 
with a detachment of which, his supports of cavalry and foot, 
under Captain Kearney and Lieutenant-Colonel Gi'aham, 
respectively, had a successful skirmish. * * * These corps, 
over the extreme difficulties of the ground, — partly covered 
with a low forest, — before described, reached Contreras, and 
found Cadwallader's brigade in position, observing the formid- 
able movement from the Capital, and much needing the timely 
reenforcement. * * « Qf the seven officers dispatched 
about sundown from my position, opposite the enemy's centre, 
and on this side of the volcanic field, to communicate instruc- 
tions to the hamlet, not one has succeeded in getting through 
these difficulties, increased by darkness ; they have all re- 
turned. But the gallant and indefatigable Captain Lee, of the 
Engineers, who has been constantly with the operating forces, 



LIFE PREVIOUS TO THE WAR. 21 

is (11 o'clock p. M.) just in from Shields, Smith, Cadwalk- 
der, etc., to report as above, and to ask that a powerful diver- 
sion be made towards the centre of the intrenched camp towards 
morning. 

"Brigadier-General Twiggs, cut off, as above, from the 
part of his division beyond the impracticable ground, and (Jap- 
tain Lee, are gone, under my orders, to collect the forces 
remaining on this side, with which to make that diversion, at 
about five o'clock in the morning." 

The diversion was converted into a real attack, " under the 
command of Colonel Ransom, of the Ninth, having ^ith him 
that regiment, and some companies of three others, guided by 
Captain Lee. * * * * At 3 A. M. the great movement 
had commenced on the rear of the enemy's camp. The march 
was rendered tedious by darkness, rain, and wind; but about 
sunrise, Riley had reached an elevation behind the enemy, 
whence he precipitated his columns, stormed the intrench men ts, 
planted his several colors upon them, and carried the works, all 
in seventeen minutes. Cadwallader had also brought up two 
of his regiments, and, at the appointed time, Colonel Ransom, 
with his temporary brigade, conducted by Captain Lee, not 
only made the movement in front to divert and to distract the 
enemy, but, after crossing the deep ravine, advanced and poured 
into the work and upon the fugitives, many volleys from his 
destructive musketry." 

After the victory at Contreras, General Scott, after giving 
the necessary orders for the movements of the army, and the 
disposition of the prisoners and spoils, went forward with Gen- 
eral Pillow's column. 

Upon reaching Coyoacan, two miles, by a cross road, from 
the river of San Antonio, General Scott sent Captain Lee with 
Kearney's dragoons and Loring's Rifles to reconnoitre that 
strong point, and upon receiving Lee's report, sent General 



22 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Pillow with Cadwallader's brigade, to attack it in concert with 
General Worth, who was to operate on the opposite side. At 
the same time a reconnoissance, under Lieutenant Stevens, 
supported by Lieutenant G. W. Smith's company of sappers 
and miners, was sent towards the fortified camp of the enemy 
at Cherubusco, one mile off. Twiggs, with one brigade and a 
battery, was ordered to follow and attack, and the other brigade 
of his division was ordered to support him. In about ten 
minutes Pierce's brigade was sent to Twiggs' assistance. Pierce 
was directed to attack the Mexican right and rear, in order to 
aid the assault in front, and cut off the retreat of the enemy to 
the capital. At last. Shields, with the New York and South 
Carolina Volunteers, was sent to support Pierce, and take com- 
mand of the left wing. Pierce was conducted to his position 
by Captain Lee, who, after the battle had fairly begun, returned 
to General Scott, who had stationed himself close in rear of 
Twiggs' line, and reported that Shields in the rear of Cheru- 
busco, was hard pressed, and in danger of being outflanked 
if not overwhelmed by superior numbers. Sumner's and 
Sibley's dragoons and Loring's Rifles, were at once dispatched 
to Shield's assistance, guided by Captain Lee. 

" The victory of the 8th September," writes General Scott, 
"at the Molinos del Eey, was followed by daring reconnois- 
sances on the part of our distinguished Engineers, — Captain 
Lee, Lieutenant Beauregard, etc. Their operations were 
directed principally to the South — towards the gates of the 
Piedad," and the heights of Chapultepec. At Chapultepec, 
Captain Lee was Avounded, and, though anxious to keep on 
with the army, was compelled by loss of blood to retire from 
the field, and seek surgical assistance. His skill and bravery 
had contributed greatly to the great achievements which closed 
the campaign. As General Scott well says — " Li the glorious 
conquest all had contributed — early and powerfully — the 



LIFE PREVIOUS TO THE WAR. 23 

killed, the wounded, and the fit for duty, as much as those who 
foucfht at the ffates of Belena and San Cosme." In his official 
report. General Scott pays a high compliment to Captain Lee, 
who was, he declares, " as distinguished for felicitous execution 
as for science and daring. Captain Lee," he goes on to say, 
" so constantly distinguished, also bore important orders from 
me (September loth) , until he fainted from a wound and the 
loss of two nights' sleep at the batteries." 

General Scott conceived a warm personal friendship for the 
young engineer, and a high admiration for his military skill. 
Lee became an especial favorite with him, and the Commander- 
in-chief sent hardly a single dispatch to Washington City, in 
which his name was not honorably mentioned. Indeed so 
greatly did the veteran soldier esteem him, that he declared, 
years afterwards, " Lee is the greatest military genius in 
America." 

Captain Lee w^as twice promoted for his services in Mexico. 
In 1847 he was brevetted Major " for gallant and meritorious 
conduct in the battle of Cerro Gordo," and later was made 
Lieutenant-Colonel by brevet, for his conduct at Contreras and 
Cherubusco. For his services, at Chapultepec, he was, on the 
1st of September 1852, made Superintendent of the West 
Point Academy. The interval between the close of the war 
and his appointment to this post, was spent by him as a member 
of the Board of Engineers. 

Colonel Lee at once entered upon the discharge of his duties 
at West Point, where he remained nearly three years. During 
his administration, and in August 1854, the course of study 
was, by the direction of the Secretary of War, extended so as 
to cover a period of five years. 

When the new cavalry regiments were organized in 1855, in 
pursuance of the Act of Congress for tliat purpose, Colonel Lee 
was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel (the full rank) in the 



i4 LIFE OP GENERAL LEE. 

Second Cavalry. This appointment made it necessary to resign 
his position at West Point, which he did on the 1st of April 
1855, being succeeded by Major J. G. Barnard. 

The Second Cavalry Regiment was commanded by Colonel 
Albert Sydney Johnston, an officer of great skill, who was 
afterwards a General in the Confederate army, and who fell at 
Shiloh in April 1862. This regiment contained among its 
officers many who, in tlie war just closed, rose to high rank in 
the two armies, and is now famous as having furnished more 
o-enerals than any organization in the old array. In 1855 it 
was sent to Texas, where, for several years, it was employed in 
constant warfare with the Indian tribes. This warfare awakened 
considerable interest throughout the country at the time, and 
Colonel Lee bore an active part in it, greatly distinguishing 
himself in one of the most desperate battles with the Indians. 

In 1859, Colonel Lee returned to Washington, and while 
there was called upon to take part in the John Brown war, 
which was, in fact, but a prelude to the great struggle which 
followed so soon afterwards. 

On the night of the 16th of October, a band of conspirators, 
led by a man named John Brown, who had become notorious 
in the territories as an oifender against the laws of the United 
States, took possession of the town of Harper's Ferry, and of 
an important United States armory there, containing about 
fifty thousand small arms. After seizing the town and armory, 
which were guarded by only two watchmen. Brown dispatched 
certain of his fellow conspirators to specified farms in the vicin- 
ity, to secure the persons of several prominent gentlemen, and 
collect the slaves. Several citizens were kidnapped by these 
men, but the slaves refused to take part in the insurrection. 
At daylight on the 17th of October, the alarm was given, and 
during the morning, the mUitia of tlie surrounding counties 
were ordered to assemble for the purpose of ' ' putting down the 
rebellion." 



LIFE PREVIOUS TO THE WAR. 25 

The news of the outbreak was at once telegraj)hed to Wash- 
ington, and the matter very greatly exaggerated. General 
Scott was absent from the city at the time, and the President 
and Secretary of War, summoned Colonel Lee, as the most 
trusted officer of the army, to consult with them as to the best 
course to be adopted. The interview resulted in dispatching a 
battalion of marines to Harper's Ferry, and directing Colonel 
Lee to follow and take command of them. Accompanied by 
his aid. Lieutenant J. E. B. Stuart, Colonel Lee at once 
started for Harper's Ferry, which he reached on the night of 
the 17th, having sent orders by telegraph to suspend all opera- 
tions until his arrival. 

The insurgents had, upon the appearance of the militia, 
which occurred early in the day, retreated to the fire engine- 
house, in the armory yard, where they had barricaded them- 
selves, and kept up a desultory fire on the town during the 
afternoon. They had taken Colonel Washington, Mr. Danger- 
field, and the other citizens kidnapped by them, into the engine- 
house with them, where they held them, hoping that the pres- 
ence of these gentlemen would prevent the troops from firing 
on them. 

As soon as Colonel Lee arrived, he proceeded to surround 
the engine-house with the marines to prevent the escape of 
Brown and his men, deferring his attack until morning, lest in 
the darkness some of the captive citizens might be injured. At 
daylight on the 18th, wishing to accomplish the object in view 
without bloodshed, if possible, Colonel Lee sent Lieutenant 
Stuart to demand the surrender of the insurgents, promising to 
protect them from violence at the hands of the citizens, until 
the wishes of the Government of the United States were known. 
Brown refused the terms offered, and demanded to be permitted 
to march out with his men and prisoners, with the arms of the 
former, to be allowed to proceed, without being followed, to 
i ■ 



26 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

the second toll-gate, where he would free the prisoners. He 
was then willing to be pursued by the troops, and to fight if he 
could not escape. This proposition was inadmissible, but as a 
last resort, Colonel Lee directed Lieutenant Stuart to remon- 
strate with the insurgents upon the folly of their course. This 
duty Stuart performed, remaining before the engine-house until 
his personal danger compelled him to withdraw. 

Finding that nothing but force would avail, Colonel Lee 
gave the order to attack, and the marines, by a gallant assault, 
captured the building and its inmates, several of whom were 
killed and wounded. Brown himself being among the latter. 
The marines lost one man killed and one wounded, but for- 
tunately none of the citizens captured by Brown were injured. 

Colonel Lee took good care to protect his prisoners, and 
there is little doubt that but for his precautions, the surviving 
conspirators would have been shot down by the excited civil- 
ians. He at once telegraphed to Washington for instructions, 
and was directed to deliver the prisoners to Mr. Ould, District 
Attorney for the District of Columbia, who was sent by the 
Government to conduct the legal proceedings, and take meas- 
ures to bring the insurgents to trial. As soon as Mr. Ould 
arrived. Colonel Lee turned over the prisoners to him, and, 
being satisfied that the danger was over, went back to Wash- 
ington. 

At the expiration of his leave of absence. Colonel Lee re- 
joined his regiment, which, in the early part of 1861, was at 
San Antonio, Texas. 



COL. LEE LEAVES THE FEDERAL ARMY. 27 



n. 

THE FIRST DATS OF WAR. 

April, 1861— IVIay, 1862. 



I. 

COLONEL LEE LEAVES THE FEDERAL AEMY. 

The political excitement throughout the country, succeeding 
the election of Mr. Lincoln to the Presidency of the United 
States, culminated, as had been foreseen, in the withdrawal of 
the States of the South, and the formation of a new Confederacy 
composed exclusively of slaveholding states, under the title of 
the Confederate States of America. 

Of the causes which produced this action on the part of the 
South, I do not design to speak here. They were many, and 
some of them were closely interwoven with the structure of the 
Union itself, not the least of which was the weakness imparted 
to the General Government by the principle of " State rights," 
a principle, which though plain and indisputable in this case, 
and sanctioned by those who framed the Constitution of the 
United States, is nevertheless fatal to all good government. 
Its natural antagonism to the ends of a firm and useful system 
was clearly demonstrated during the brief existence of the Con- 
federacy, which was compelled to trample upon the principle as 
early as the year 1862. Still, the framers of the Federal Con- 



28 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

stitution, and the States which ratified it, had left open the 
way for just such a state of affiiirs as afterwards occurred, and 
under that Constitution neither the States of the North nor the 
Federal Government had the slightest right to interfere with 
any member of the Union to coerce it into obedience to the 
will of either. Whatever may be the changes that the war has 
worked in our system of Government, — and they are many and 
radical, there can be no doubt that the States of the South in 
seceding from the Union were exercising an undoubted right. 

The Commonwealth of Virginia had for sometime clung to 
the Union, unwilling to abandon it while there remained a 
hope of continuing in it upon terms consistent with her honor. 
But the course pursued by the Federal Government, which led 
to the capture of Fort Sumter, and the subsequent Proclama- 
tion of President Lincoln, calling for troops to coerce the se- 
ceded States into obedience, left Virginia no alternative but to 
withdraw from among her enemies, and unite her destiny with 
that of her Southern sisters. She had exhausted every means 
at her command for the preservation of peace, and she now pre- 
pared to repel the attack with which she was threatened. 

Colonel Lee had been an interested spectator of these great 
events ; the early part of the year 1861 found him with his 
regiment at San Antonio, Texas, but a few months later he 
returned to Washington. He watched the course of Virginia 
anxiously, hoping that she would find it consistent with her 
honor to remain in the Union, and that peace would be pre- 
served. His hope was vain, and when Virginia withdrew from 
the United States, she called on her children to assemble for her 
protection. Colonel Lee's course was now plain. He believed 
that the state of Virginia had the right to pursue the course she 
had adopted, though his own judgment assured him it would 
bring great suffering and disaster upon her. He believed, also, 
that his State had the first claim upon his services, and that it 



COL. LEE LEAVES THE FEDERAL ARMY. 29 

was his duty to obey the command of Virginia without ques- 
tioning it. This left him no choice, but to follow the State. 
He was influenced by no feeling of ambition, or sectional 
hatred. His course was the result of a conscientious conviction 
of duty, formed after a mental struggle such as few men are 
called upon to make. Had he believed it his duty to remain 
in the service of the United States he would have done so at any 
sacrifice of his personal feelings ; for he has never yet beeo false 
to his sense of duty. 

It cost Colonel Lee a great and painful struggle to leave the 
service with which he had been so long connected. For more 
than twenty-five years he had served with credit and distinction 
in the Federal army, and now held in the opinion of both the 
army and the country the second position in it in point of merit, 
being regarded as the most fitting successor to the veteran 
Lieutenant General, to whom he was bound by the strongest 
ties of love and esteem. If he remained in the Federal service, 
honor and high military distinction awaited him. The President 
of the United States, through one of the Cabinet, offered him 
the immediate command of the army,* and General Scott im- 
plored him to remain. Every influence that could be thought 
of was brought to bear upon the great soldier to induce him to 
remain in the Federal service. Colonel Lee himself knew that 
if he complied with these urgent requests, his military ambition 
would be fulfilled in everything. He knew also that if he linked 
his fate with that of Virginia, suflfering and sorrow were in store 
for him ; that from wealth he would descend to poverty ; and 
that he would be proclaimed to the world as a traitor by the 
Government he had loved so well. It was a terrible trial, and 
had he been influenced by convictions less pure, or a sense of 
duty less high, ambition would have triumphed. His feelings 

* Statement of Hon. Montgomery Blair, in "the National Intelligencer," 
August 9, 1866. 



30 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

may be gathered from the following extract from a letter writ- 
ten by Mrs. Lee, in December 1861, to a Unionist friend, " My 
husband," she said " has wept tears of blood over this terrible 
war, but he must, as a man of honor and a Virginian, share the 
destiny of his State." 

Those who do not own Virginia as their mother, can never 
know the feeling which her children bear her; the love, the 
devotion, the readiness to lay down everything, even life itself, 
at her bidding. So deep, so entire Is this devotion, that no 
one, worthy to be called her son, could think for one instant of 
questioning her right to command, still less of raising his arm 
to strike his mother. 

The action of Virginia put an end to the struggle of Colonel 
Lee and left him no alternative. To Mr. Blair, who was au- 
thorized to offer him the command of the Federal army, he 
said, "Mr. Blair, I look upon secession as anarchy. If I 
owned four millions of slaves in the South, I would sacrifice 
them all to the Union ; but how can I draw my sword upon 
Virginia, my native State?" To General Scott, who begged 
him, " For God's sake don't resign, Lee," he said, " I am 
compelled to. I cannot consult my own feelings in this mat- 
ter." 

True to his sense of duty, Colonel Lee resigned his commis- 
sion as an officer of the United States Army, on the 20th ot 
April 1861, and at the same time sent the following letter to 
General Scott : — 

"Arlington, Va., April 20, 1861. 
" General : — 

*' Since my interview with you on the 18th Instant, I have 
felt that I ought not longer to retain my commission in the 
army. I therefore tender my resignation, which I request you 
will recommend for acceptance. It would have been presented 



COL. LEE LEAVES THE FEDERAL ARMY. 31 

at once but for the struggle it has cost me to separate myself 
from a service to which I have devoted all the best years of my 
life, and all the ability I possessed. 

" During the whole of that time, — more than a quarter of a 
century, — I have experienced nothing but kindness from my 
superiors, and the most cordial friendship &om my comrades. 
To no one, General, have I been as much indebted as to your- 
self, for uniform kindness and consideration, and it has always 
been my ardent desire to merit your approbation. I shall carry 
to the grave the most grateful recollections of your kind con- 
sideration, and your name and fame will always be dear to 
me. 

" Save In defence of my native State, I never desire again 
to draw my sword. Be pleased to accept my most earnest 
wishes for the continuance of your happiness and prosperity, 
and believe me, most truly yours, 

"E. E. Lee. 

*' Lieutenant-general Winfield Scott, 
" Commanding United States Army." * 

* To his sister, the wife of a Union officer, he wrote as follows ; 

" Aklingtox, Va., April 20, 1861. 
"Mt deak Sister: — 

" I AM grieved at my inability to see you. ***** j have been waiting 
for ' a more convenient season,' which has bi'ought to many before me deep 
and lasting regret. We are now in a state of war which will yield to nothing. 
The whole South is in a state of revolution, into which, Virginia, after a long 
struggle, has been drawn; and though I recognize no necessity for this state 
of things, and would have forborne and pleaded to the end, for redress of 
grievances, real or supposed, yet in my own person I had to meet the ques- 
tion, whether I should take part against my native State. With all my devo- 
tion to the Union, and the feeling of loyalty and duty of an American citizen, 
I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand against my rela- 
tives, my children, my home. I have, therefore, resigned my commission in 
the army, and save in defence of my native State, with the sincere hope that 
my poor services may never be needed, I hope I may never be called upon 
to draw my sword. 



32 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Colonel Lee's resignation was accepted on the 20th of April, 
and he at once repaired to Eichmond, leaving behind him the 
home where he had passed so many happy hours,* and which 
was to be his no longer. 



II. 
GENERAL LEE COMMANDS THE ARMY IN VIRGINIA. 

Early in 1861, in view of the probable withdrawal of the 
State, the Legislature of Virginia authorized the Governor of 
the Commonwealth to raise and organize a military force of 
from ten to twenty thousand men, under an officer of expe- 
rience, with the title of Major General. 

When Colonel Lee resigned his commission in the Federal 
army. Governor Letcher at once conferred upon him the rank 
authorized by the Legislature, and the command of all the 
forces in Virginia. This appointment was not solicited by 
Colonel Lee, but he did not feel at liberty to decline it. It was 
confirmed by the Convention, and the decision of that body 
was communicated to him on the 23d of April, by the Presi- 
dent of the Convention, John Janney, Esq. 

General Lee was presented to the Convention by the Chair- 
man of the Military Committee, Mr. Johnson, of Eichmond. 
The President then addressed the new Commander-in-Chief as 
follows : — 

" I know you will blame me, but you must think as kindly of me as you 
can, and believe that I have endeavored to do what I thought right. To 
show you the feeling and struggle it has cost me, I send a copy of my letter 
to General Scott, which accompanied my letter of resignation. I have no 
time for more. * * * * May God guard and protect you and yours, and 
shower upon you every blessing, is the prayer of your devoted brother, 

K. E. Lee." 
* Arlington. 



GEN. LEE COMMANDS THE ARMY IN VIRGINIA. 33 

" Major-General Lee, in the name of the people of your na- 
tive State here represented, I bid you a cordial and heartfelt 
welcome to this hall, in which we may almost yet hear the echo 
of the voices of the statesmen, the soldiers, and sages of by- 
gone days, who have borne your name, and whose blood now 
flows in your veins. 

" We met in the month of February last, charged with the 
solemn duty of protecting the rights, the honor, and the inter- 
ests of the people of this Commonwealth. We differed for a 
time as to the best means for accomplishing that object ; but 
there never was, at any moment, a shade of difference among 
us as to the great object itself. And now, Virginia having 
taken her position, as far as the power of this Convention ex- 
tends, we stand animated by one impulse, governed by one de- 
sire and one determination, and that is, that she shall be de- 
fended, and that no spot of her soil shall be polhited by the foot 
of an invader. 

"When the necessity became apparent of having a leader 
for our forces, all hearts and eyes, by the impulse of an instinct 
which is a surer guide than reason itself, turned to the old 
county of Westmoreland. We knew how prolific she had been 
in other days, of heroes and statesmen. We knew she had 
given birth to the Father of his Country, to Richard Henry 
Lee, to Monroe, and Jast, though not least, to your own gal- 
lant father ; and we knew well by your deeds, that her produc- 
tive power was not yet exhausted. 

*' Sir, we watched with the most profound and intense inter- 
est the triumphal march of the army led by General Scott, to 
which you were attached, from Vera Cruz to the Capital of 
Mexico. We read of the sanguinary conflicts, and the blood- 
stained fields, in all of which victory perched upon our own 
banners. We knew of the unfading lustre that was shed upon 
the American arms by that campaign, and we knew, also, what 
5 



34 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

your modesty has always disclaimed, that no small share of the 
glory of those achievements was due to your valor and your 
military genius. 

< ' Sir, one of the proudest recollections of my life will be the 
honor that I yesterday had of submitting to this body, confir- 
mation of the nomination made by the Governor of this State, 
of you as Commander-in-Chief of the military and naval forces 
of this Commonwealth. I rose to put the question, and when 
I asked if this body should advise and consent to that appoint- 
ment, there rushed from the hearts to the tongues of all the 
members, an affirmative response, told with an emphasis that 
could leave no doubt of the feeling whence it emanated. I put 
the negative of the question for form's sake, but there was an 
unbroken silence. 

" Sir, we have by this unanimous vote, expressed our con- 
victions that you are at this day among the living citizens of 
Virginia, ' first in war.' We pray to God most fervently that 
you may so conduct the operations committed to your charge, 
that it will soon be said of you, that you are ' first in peace ; ' 
and when that time comes, you will have earned the still 
prouder distinction of being ' first in the hearts of your country- 
men.' I will close with one more remark. 

' ' When the Father of his Country made his last will and 
testament, he gave swords to his favorite nephews, with an in- 
junction that they should never be drawn from their scabbards 
except in self defence, or in defence of the rights and liberties 
of their country ; and that, if drawn for the latter purpose, they 
should fall with them in their hands, rather than relinquish 
them. 

" Yesterday your mother, Virginia, placed her sword in your 
hand, upon the implied condition, that we know you will keep 
to the letter and in spirit, that you will draw it only in defence, 
and that you will fall with it in your hand, rather than the ob- 
ject for which it was placed there shall fail." 



GEN. LEE COMMANDS THE ARMY IN VIRGINIA. 35 

To this address General Lee replied : — 

"Mr. President and gentlemen of the Convention: — Pro- 
foundly impressed with the solemnity of the occasion, for which 
I must say I was not prepared, I accept the position assigned 
me by your partiality. I would have much preferred your 
choice had fallen upon an abler man. Trusting in Almlgh-ty 
God, an approving conscience, and the aid of my fellow citi- 
zens, I devote myself to the service of my native State, in 
whose behalf alone, will I ever again draw my sword." 

General Lee at once addressed himself to the task of orofan- 
izing the State forces, and putting the country In a condition 
of defence. It was an undertaking requiring the exercise of 
the highest energy, skill, and perseverance. In response to 
the call of the Governor for troops, volunteers were coming in 
every day In large numbers ; but these were without organiza- 
tion, discipline, or arms. To supply these wants, or. In other 
words, to make an army out of these peaceful citizens, was the 
first duty of the new commander. This duty was successfully 
performed, and in an almost incredibly short time. The troops 
were organized and equipped, important strategic points through- 
out the State occupied and fortified, and a spirit of life and ac- 
tivity given to the whole military organization. Besides this, 
three steamers were converted Into vessels of war. So well 
was the work done, that during the first few weeks of the war, 
a Northern journal said, in referring to matters in Virginia, 
" Should the United States' troops succeed in entering the 
State of Virginia, they will be compelled to encounter, at va- 
rious points on the route, large bodies of troops, strongly post- 
ed in positions capable of being maintained many days against 
an invading army. By the way of Alexandria a general of su- 
perior ability will be required, as he will probably be compelled 
to encounter, at some point on the route to Richmond, Gen- 
eral Lee himself, or Magruder." 



36 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

On the Gth of May the State of Virginia became a member 
of the Confederate States, and transferred its forces to the new 
Government. On the 10th of May, General Lee was ordered 
by President Davis to retain his command of the army in Vir- 
o-inia, until the military organization of the Confederacy was 
placed on a firm basis. After the assembling of the Provisional 
Congress at Richmond, in July 1861, he was made a General 
in the Regular Army of the Confederacy, ranking next to 
Sydney Johnston, — the list being as follows : — Cooper, Syd- 
ney Johnston, Lee. 

With characteristic modesty. General Lee refrained from 
seekin*'" notoriety, being content to execute any task, however 
humble, confided to him. At a late period of the war, he gave 
utterance to the feeling which always influenced him, when he 
said, " I will take any position the country assigns to me, and 
do the best I can." 

Before going further, I desire to glance briefly at the first 
events of the war in Virginia. 

The State seceded on the 17th of April, 1861. As soon as 
the passage of the Ordinance of Secession became known to 
the United States Government, the small Federal garrison at 
Harper's Ferry evacuated the place, after attempting to destroy 
the Arsenal there. This building, however, was saved by the 
timely arrival of the Virginia forces, and a large number of 
valuable arms, and the greater portion of the machinery pre- 
served to the country. This was on the 19th of the month. 
On the 20th, Fortress Monroe, which commands the entrance 
to the James River, was reenforced, and the Gosport Navy 
Yard, near Norfolk, with the vessels lying there, set on fire and 
abandoned. The flames in this instance, also, were suppressed 
by the Virginians, and large quantities of valuable and impor- 
tant stores, and many pieces of artillery were thus rescued. 
The force at Fortress Monroe was daily increased, and on the 



GEN. LEE COMMANDS THE ARMY IN VIRGINIA. 37 

24th of May the city of Alexandria was occupied by the 
Federal army. Shortly afterwards a strong column, under 
General McClellan, advanced into "Western Virginia. 

To meet the danger which threatened them, detatchments of 
Southern troops were stationed at various points, and reenforced 
as rapidly as possible. The command at Harper's Ferry was 
given to Colonel T.J. Jackson, and he was soon succeeded by 
his superior officer, General Joseph E. Johnston. General 
Beauregard was sent to Manassas Junction, Colonel Magruder 
was ordered to Yorktown with instructions to place the Penin- 
sula in a state of defence, and General Huger was sent to Nor- 
folk. Sewell's and Pig's Points in the neighborhood of Nor- 
folk were fortified, as were also Craney Island in Elizabeth 
River, and Gloucester Point opposite Yorktown; The Con- 
federate Government was removed to Kichmond, which city be- 
came the great depot of supplies, as well as the capital of the 
new Republic. Volunteering went on briskly, and soon a 
large force, which was augmented by troops from other States, 
was collected in Virginia. In Western Virginia a small de- 
tachment under General R. S. Garnett,who had done good 
service as General Lee's Adjutant General, was sent to occupy 
the country, and serve as a nucleus for more volunteers. 

The Northern press affected to consider the course of the 
South as a mere petty insurrection which could be quickly sup- 
pressed. One of these journals expressed itself as follows ; 

' ' The nations of Europe may rest assured that Jeff Davis 
and Co. will be swinging from the battlements of Washington, 
at least by the Fourth of July. We spit upon a later and 
longer deferred justice." 

Another said ; 

" Let us make quick w^ork. The ' rebellion' as some peo- 
ple designate it, is an unborn tadpole. Let us not fall into the 
delusion noticed by Hallam, of mistaking a ' local commotion' 



38 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

for a revolution. A strong, active, ' pull together' will do our 
work effectually in thirty days. We have only to send a col- 
umn of 25,000 men across the Potomac to Richmond, and 
burn out the rats there; another column of 25,000 to Cairo, 
seizin o- the cotton ports of the Mississippi, and retaining the 
remaining 25,000 included in Mr. Lincoln's call for 75,000 
inen, at Washington, not because there is any need for them 
there, but because we do not require their services elsewhere." 
Another went so far as to declare that, "Illinois can whip 
the South by heriSelf." 

The Federal Government did not share in tlaese extravagances. 
It clearly recognized the gravity of the struggle upon which 
it had entered. General Scott, who directed its military affairs, 
was too old a soldier to commit the folly of underrating his adver- 
sary, especially when the Southern armies in Virginia were con- 
trolled by the man whose genius he had always valued so highly. 
On the 3rd of May President Lincoln called for 40,000 addi- 
tional volunteers, ten more regiments for the regular army, and 
18,000 seamen. This, with the force already on hand, would 
place the Federal strength at at least 150,000 men. The calls 
were promptly responded to, and it was evident there would be 
no lack of troops in the North. It is said that the plan of the 
Federal Government, which was drawn up by General Scott, 
was to send a strong column into the Mississippi Valley and 
occupy It ; a second was to take possession of Kentucky and 
check any Southern movements there : while the third column 
was to capture Richmond. These triumphs, together with a 
strict blockade of the Southern coast, would, it was believed, 
effectually " crush the rebellion." Virginia was to be attacked 
from four directions — from Fortress Monroe, by way of the 
Peninsula between the James and York Rivers : from Alexan- 
dria and Manassas ; from the Valley of the Shenandoah and 
from the Northwest by way of Staunton. The movements of 



GEN. LEE COMMANDS THE ARMY IN VIRGINIA. 39 

tliesc four columns were to be simultaneous ; they were to unite 
at Richmond ; and after the capture of that city were to cooper- 
ate with the forces in Kentucky and the Mississippi Valley, in 
restoring the enth'e South to the Federal sway. This was the 
magnificent programme which was to be thwarted by the able 
lieutenants of the Southern Commander-in-*}hief. 

By a singular coincidence, the conflict in Virginia opened at 
Gloucester Point opposite Yorktown, where the war of the 
Revolution practically ended. This was simply a slight skirmish 
between an armed tug and a Southern field battery, resulting 
in the withdrawal of the Federal steamer. It was followed by 
other skirmishes between shore batteries and Federal steamers, 
at Sewell's and Pig's Points and at Aquia Creek, to the disad- 
vantage of the latter, and outposts and picket fights at numer- 
ous points throughout the State, with varied success. On the 
3rd of June, Colonel Porterfield, who had been sent to West- 
ern Virginia by General Lee for the purpose of recruiting, was 
attacked and defeated at Philippi by General Kelley. 

The first engagement of importance was at Great Bethel, 
between Yorktown and Hampton, in which, on the 10th of 
June, a force of 1800 infnntry and six pieces of artillery, imper- 
fectly intrenched, defeated a column of about 5000 men with 
artillery, advancing up the Peninsula from Fortress Monroe. 
Considered in itself, the battle of Bethel Avas comparatively an 
insignificant affair ; but when it is remembered that it was the 
first decided trial of strength between the combatants, and that 
it produced a feeling of confidence in the Southern army and 
raised the enthusiasm of the people to a still greater degree, we 
can easily understand why the South should class it among the 
principal battles of the war. Besides this, a defeat of Colonel 
Magruder would have placed the little army of the Peninsula 
at the mercy of the Federals, and have opened the way to 
Richmond. 



4:0 LIFE OF GENEEAL LEE. 

Bethel was followed by the brief Ccampaign of Generals 
Johnston and Patterson in the Yalley of Virginia, and the dis- 
astrous defeat of Colonel Pegram at Eich Mountain, and the 
death of General Garnett, during his retreat from Laurel Eidge. 

On the 16th of July, the Federal army, numbering 55,000 
infantry, nine regiments of cavalry, and 49 pieces of artillery, 
advanced from Alexandria towards Bull Eun, behind which the 
Confederate army, under General Beauregard was posted. 
General Johnston, hearing of this, eluded Patterson, and has- 
tened to Bull Eun, where he arrived with a part of his force on 
the 20th of July. The entire Southern army, on the morning 
of July 21st, amounted to 31,431 Infantry, 500 cavalry, and 
55 guns. After an ineffectual attempt to force a passage of 
Bull Eun, at Blackburn's Ford, on the 18th of July, the Fed- 
eral army attacked the forces of Beauregard and Johnston on 
the morning of the 21st, and was routed and driven back to 
"Washington, after a hard-fought battle. 

After this engagement neither army made any advance, until 
General Johnston occupied Mason's and Munson's Hills In sight 
of Washington City. 



III. 

THE CAMPAIGN IN WESTERN VIRGINIA. 

"When General Lee took command of the Virginia forces, he 
sent Colonel G. A. Porterfield, who had been an officer in the 
Eegular Army of the United States, to "Western Virginia, to 
raise volunteers for the defence of the State. Porterfield pro- 
ceeded at once to his destination, and, establishing his head- 
quarters at Philippi, a village in Barbour County, issued hisy 
proclamation for troops for service in the State army. The 



THE CAMPAIGN IN WESTERN VIRGINIA. 41 

people of Western Virginia refused to respond to the call, and 
at the same time enlisted rapidly in the Federal army. 

Porterfield found it impossible to procure recruits, and ascer- 
tained that the enemy were collecting troops so rapidly along 
the Ohio Eiver, that unless a Southern army could be sent into 
Western Virginia, that portion of the State would be speedily 
overrun by the Federals. He promptly informed General Lee 
of this, and finding his little command of less than seven hun- 
dred men threatened by a Federal column at Grafton, deter- 
mined to withdraw to Beverley, in Randolph County. Before 
this resolution could be put into effect, his camp at Philippi was 
surprised and captured by five thousand Federal soldiers, and 
his men put to flight, with the loss of several killed and 
wounded, and a few prisoners. 

General Lee, as soon as he received Colonel Porterfield's 
dispatch, prepared to send troops to Western Virginia. About 
five thousand infantry, some cavalry, and several batteries of 
artillery were assembled at Beverley, late in May, and the com- 
mand bestowed upon Brigadier- General E. S. Garnett, a 
gallant officer, who had served as General Lee's Adjutant- 
General during the first few weeks of the war. 

General Garnett, after reaching Beverley, proceeded to oc- 
cupy a strong position near that town. With a force of three 
thousand infimtry, six pieces of artillery, and three companies 
of cavalry, he intrenched himself on the slopes of Laurel Hill, 
holding the main turnpike from Staunton to Wheeling. This 
road, which here runs nearly southward, was his dh'ect line of 
retreat, being the great highway across the mountains in this 
region. If cut ofi" from it, his only chance of retreat was by 
difficult roads over the mountains to the eastward. Five miles 
below Garnett's position, at Laurel Hill, a road from the west 
passes through this spur, at a defile known as Eich Mountain, 
and strilves the main road. To guard this approach against any 



42 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. -^ 

effort of the enemy to seize his line of retreat, Garnett posted 
Colonel John Pegram, his second in command, with sixteen 
hundred infantry and four pieces of artillery, at Rich Mountain. 
From the position thus secured, the Confederates sent their 
cavalry throughout the mountain counties, and harassed the 
Federal forces in that region very greatly. 

The command of the Department of the Ohio, consisting of 
the States of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, had been entrusted by 
the Federal Government, early in May, to General George B. 
McClellan, who had served with distinction in the Engineer 
Corps of the Regular Army. As soon as he learned the pres- 
ence of Porterfield and Garnett in Western Virginia, McClel- 
lan determined to cross the Ohio, which properly bounded his 
department, drive the Southern troops east of the mountains, 
and occupy the mountain region with his own forces. It has 
been seen that the movement against Porterfield was successful. 

General MeClellan now resolved to attack Garnett, and in 
order to defeat him, directed his march so as to strike the main 
line of retreat of the Confederate force below the position held 
by Colonel Pegram, and at the same time to send another col- 
umn to seize the only other route by which Garnett could 
retreat, and thus capture the whole force. 

Accordingly, on the 11th of July, Brigadiei'-General Rose- 
cranz, with about three thousand men, was dispatched to attack 
Pegram's left and rear, while McClellan, with five thousand 
infantry and some artillery, attacked in front. 

After a difficult march over the mountain by an unusual road, 
Rosecranz succeeded in turning Pegram's left, and gaining his 
rear, and after a short but stubborn fight, Pegram was defeated. 
Six companies of infantry escaped, but the rest of the Southern 
force fell into the hands of the enemy. 

As soon as General Garnett heard of the result of the fight 
at Rich Mountain, he determined to abandon Laurel Hill and 



THE CAMPAIGN IN WESTERN VIRGINIA. 43 

fall back to lluttonsville. Owing to a misconstruction of his 
orders, the road was left open in the direction of the enemy, 
and blocked some distance from Beverley on his own line of 
march. Tiiis forced him to leave the main turnpike, and 
retreat by a mountain road into Hardy County. McClellan 
pursued vigorously, and the Confederates were put to great 
straits to effect their escape. About five hundred prisoners 
were taken, and General Garnett himself was killed at one of 
the fords of Cheat Eiver. 

The Confederate loss in the campaign was very slio-ht in 
killed and wounded, being less than one hundred, but they lost 
over one thousand prisoners, nearly all their artillery, and the 
greater part of their baggage. 

The disastrous result of the campaign spread a feeling of 
gloom for a time throughout the South. It was the first defeat 
the Southern arms had sustained, and the people were totally 
unused to war. The remnants of Garnett's command retreated 
to Monterey in Highland County, where they were soon joined 
by reenforcements from Richmond ; but though temporary suc- 
cesses were frequently gained by the South, McClellan's 
promptness and boldness, gave the Federals a hold upon West- 
ern Virginia, which they never relaxed throughout the war. 

While Garnett was at Rich Mountain, Brigadier-General 
Henry A. Wise was sent to Western Virginia to raise troops 
in the Kanawha Valley. He established his headquarters at 
Charleston, and succeeded in organizing and arming twenty-five 
hundred infantry, seven hundred cavalry, and three batteries 
of artillery, which force was soon after increased to four thou- 
sand men. The Federal army under iNIcClellan had by this 
time crossed the Ohio River. A Federal force was at Parkers- 
burg, and the enemy were using every effort to bring into the 
Kanawha Valley an army sufficient to drive Wise out of it. 
Soon the command of General Cox moved from the Ohio River 



44 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE, 

to attack him. The Southern Cavalry had several brilliant 
encounters at Scary Creek and elsewhere, with the advanced 
forces of the enemy, and Wise prepared to give battle to Cox ; 
when he learned that his right and rear were exposed to 
McClellan's main column by the defeat of Garnett at Laurel 
Hill, and that he was in danger of being hemmed in between 
Cox and McClellan. General Wise at once fell back to Lewis- 
burg, reaching that place about the 1st of August, after a 
retreat which was rendered somewhat difficult by an insuffi- 
ciency of transportation. 

A few weeks later, Brigadier General John B. Floyd was 
sent west of the mountains, with his brigade, which numbered 
about eighteen hundred infantry, a battalion of cavalry, and a 
battery of artillery, to operate in the Valley of the Kanawha. 
He repaired at once to the White Sulphur Springs, in Gi'een- 
brier County, about nine miles from General Wise's position. 
He consulted with General Wise, and the two commanders 
agreed upon an advance towards Gauley River. Unfortu- 
nately their columns moved separately, and failed to act in 
concert at any subsequent period. The Gauley River was 
reached, and crossed by Floyd's forces, but Wise halted on the 
bank of the stream. Floyd attacked a superior Federal force 
under Colonel Tyler, at the Cross Lanes in Fayette County, 
and defeated it with some loss on the 26th of August. On the 
10th of September, he was himself attacked at Carnifex Ferry, 
on the Gauley, by General Rosecranz, who had succeeded 
McClellan in command of the Federal army in West Virginia. 
Rosecranz's force numbered nine thousand men and several 
batteries of artillery. Floyd had seventeen hundred and fifty 
men. The Confederates succeeded in maintaining their position 
against heavy odds until night, when Floyd recrossed the river. 
Rosecranz moved forward in pursuit, and forced Floyd and 
Wise back to Sewell's Mountain. Fresh disao-reements oc- 



THE CAMPAIGN IN WESTERN VIRGINIA. 45 

curred between the Confederate leaders, and Floyd fell back to 
Meadow Bluff, eighteen miles west of Lewisburg, and "Wise 
halted on the eastern slope of Se well's Mountain, where he 
intrenched his position, which he named Camp Defiance. 
Thus, through the failure of the two Generals to cooperate 
with each other, the campaign resulted in nothing of value to 
the Confederates. 

jMeanwhile, upon the death of General Garnett, General Lee 
was ordered to Western Virginia to take command of the army 
in that region. He at once set out from Richmond for Mon- 
terey, taking with him reenforcements, which, added to the 
remnant of Garnett's troops, brought the army to about sixteen 
thousand men. The roads were in a horrible condition, being 
almost knee deep in mud, and it was with great difficulty that 
the army could move forward, but advancing steadily westward. 
General Lee, by the 10th of August, reached the neighborhood 
of Cheat Mountain, and found it strongly fortified. The posi- 
tion was very formidable, but General Lee determined to 
endeavor, by strategic movements, to dislodge the enemy from 
it, when, by pushing forward rapidly with his whole army, he 
hoped to drive the Federals to the Ohio. 

General Reynolds, second in command to Eosecranz, had 
taken position to cover the approaches to Beverley, with a force 
of about twelve thousand men. The bulk of this army was 
strongly intrenched at a point at the junction of Tygart's 
Valley River, and Elk Run, which post was called by the Fed- 
erals "Elk Water." The rest held the pass at the second 
summit of Cheat Mountain, on the main road from Staunton 
to Parkersbui'g. The mountain had what may be called three 
distinct summits. The second was the most available for mili- 
tary purposes, and the enemy had strengthened it with a 
powerful fort or block house in the bend of the road, flanked 
by intrenchments of earth and logs, protected by dense abattis 



46 LITE OF GENERAL LEE. 

on every side. On two sides it was impossible to approach 
this stronghold, for the mountain rose almost perpendicular 
from the river to the fort. 

General Lee felt his way cautiously along the road from 
Hunters ville to Huttonsville, and halted near the Federal posi- 
tion at Cheat Mountain. Careful reconnoissances developed its 
immense strength, but Colonel Rust, of the Third Arkansas 
Regiment, who had made what proved to be a very imperfect 
reconnoissance of the Federal position, reported that it was 
perfectly practicable to turn it and carry it by assault. General 
Lee at once gave orders for a combined attack on the enemy 
both at Elk Water and Cheat Mountain. The weather was 
very cold, and the difficulties to be overcome by the troops in 
occupying the positions assigned them were very great, but, in 
spite of these obstacles, General Lee succeeded in reaching a 
point below the enemy at Elk Water, placing other portions 
of his force on the spurs of the mountain to the east and west 
of the block house, and moving another part of his army down 
the river close to the enemy. These dispositions completed, 
General Lee was ready to attack the Federals at Elk Water, 
as soon as Colonel Rust's guns should be heard on Cheat 
Mountain. 

Colonel Rust, with fifteen hundred men, was ordered to gain 
the rear of the fort, where he had reported an assault practi- 
cable, and carry the work by storm. After considerable exer- 
tion Rust gained the rear of the fort, but saw at a glance that 
he had been deceived in his former reconnoissance. Indeed the 
Federal abattis extended so far, and was so utterly impene- 
trable that it was impossible to reach the fort. Seeing this, 
Colonel Rust decided not to make the assault, and at once 
withdrew his troops. His failure rendered it useless for Gen- 
eral Lee to attack the works at Elk Water, as a victory there 
would have been useless with the enemy at Cheat Mojmtain. 



THE CAIVIPAIGN IN WESTERN VIRGINIA. 47 

The Confederate troops were withdrawn, and the effort aban- 
doned. 

Considerable criticism has been drawn out on both sides by 
the failure of General Lee to take the enemy's works at Elk 
Water, which his troops had surrounded. No doubt such a 
victory was within his grasp, but General Lee wisely considered 
that as it would accomplish practically nothing while the enemy 
remained in the impregnable stronghold on the mountain, it was 
not worth the sacrifice of life that would be necessary to accom- 
plish it. 

Soon after he had drawn off his troops. General Lee was in- 
formed by couriers of the exposed situation of Floyd and Wise, 
ao:ainst whom the combined forces of Eosecranz and Cox were 
advancing. He at once decided to transfer his army to the 
vicinity of Lewisburg, and endeavor to defeat Rosecranz before 
the fall rains should render the roads impassable. He reached 
Floyd's position on the 20th of September, and, after confer- 
ring with him and inspecting the locality, set out for Camp 
Defiance, where he arrived on the 2 2d. A close inspection 
satisfied him that the line held by General Wise on the Sewell 
ISIountain was more advantageous than that of General Floyd 
at Meadow Bluff, and he at once ordered all his troops forward, 
and proceeded to strengthen his position. He had left a part 
of his army to hold the Federal force at Cheat Mountain in 
check, but, including the commands of Floyd and Wise, he had 
with him about fifteen thousand men, which Avas the strength 
of Rosecranz's army. 

Rosecranz, who had been pressing on after Wise and Floyd, 
now reached the Sewell Mountain, and took position on the 
top and western slope of it ; the armies were now in sight of 
each other, and out-post fights and skirmishes went on con- 
stantly. Expecting to be attacked. General Lee made no 
advance, and the adversaries confronted each other for nearly 



48 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

two weeks, At last, Eosecranz, discovering the true nature 
of the foroi opposed to him, on the night of the 6th of October 
broke up his camp and retreated westward. The retreat was 
discovered by the Confederates the next mornin'j, but no at- 
tempt at pursuit was made. The army was not provided wdth 
the means of dragging its artillery through the mud, and its 
transportation was very deficient. 

It must be confessed that General Lee disappointed the 
expectations of the country in this campaign. He showed less 
vigor and genius than at any other period of the war. 

General Henry R. Jackson had been left by General Lee, 
with twenty-five hundred men, to hold his position on the Green- 
brier River. On the 3d of October, General Reynolds, with 
about four thousand Federal troops, moved out from Cheat 
Mountain and attacked Jackson. The Federals were repulsed 
and driven from the field with a loss of about two hundred and 
sixty killed and wounded ; the Confederates had six men killed 
and thirty-one wounded. 



IV. 

GENERAL LEE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. 

The campaign in Western Virginia closed with the battle of 
the Greenbrier. About this time, the efforts of the Federal 
Government were directed principally toward points on the 
Southern coast, and late in the fall the Confederate Govern- 
ment directed General Lee to proceed to Charleston and take 
command of the coast department. The enemy had captured 
Fort Hatteras and the works in Port Royal Harbor, and were 
threatening the interior. They made no serious effort to ad- 



GENERAL LEE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. 49 

vance inland, however, and as it was impossible without the 
aid of a navy, which the Confedei-ates could not command, to 
dislodge them from the positions they had gained. General 
Lee's duties consisted principally in fortifying the exposed points 
of the coast. His task was well performed, and it was owing 
to his skill and labor that the subsequent efforts of the Federals 
in this quarter met with so little success. The winter passed 
away quietly, every moment being improved by General Lee to 
push forward his work, but before the season of active opera- 
tions returned, he was called away to a new command. 

By the spring of 1862 the Confederate cause had suffered so 
many disasters, the most of Avhich were so clearly attributable 
to the conduct of the Government, that there was manifested 
throughout the country a very decided desire that the President 
should be relieved of the direction of the military affairs of the 
Confederacy, and that that duty should be entrusted to a Com- 
mander-in-chief, who should have nothing to do with ■ the civil 
department of the Government. The country regarded Gen- 
eral Lee as the man most suited for the post, and with a view 
to carry out the wishes of the people, the Congress passed a 
bill creating the office of Commanding General. President Da- 
vis vetoed this bill as unconstitutional, but, as he also shared 
the belief that General Lee ought to be assigned a more 
important command, appointed him to the chief command of 
the armies of the South, subject, however, to "the direction 
of the President." Though this was not the position designed 
for General Lee by the people, it was a fortunate appointment 
for the South, and one which largely increased the sphere of 
the great soldier's usefulness. 

General Lee entered upon his new duties on the 13th of 
INIarch 1862,* and the change was immediately felt. New life 

* The following is the order assigning him to duty at Richmond : 
7 



50 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

seemed to be infused into the Government, and from the thne 
his firm will was first felt at the head of affairs, the military 
situation began to grow brighter. Had his counsels been fol- 
lowed in every thing, I might now write quite a different story 
from that which it is my duty to relate. He was very popular 
in his new position, but this was not strange, as he was one of 
the few Confederate oflScials who did not deem it a sacrifice of 
his dio-nity to treat a stranger with courtesy and kindness. 
His child-like simplicity was never more apparent than now. 
Many persons had expected him to make considerable military 
display, and could hardly realize that the plain, quiet gentleman 
who rode daily about the lines of Richmond, clad in simple gray, 
without any decorations, was bending all the energies of a 
genius second to none in the world, to one of the most arduous 
tasks that ever tried the skill and patience of a soldier. 

General Lee retained his position as Commanding General 
but a few months, events which I shall now proceed to relate, 
callino; him to a more active field of usefulness, the duties of 
which were so engaging, that he requested the President, 
towards the autumn, to relieve him of the general control of 
the armies. 

"WAK DEPAKTMEXT, 
Adjutant and Inspectoe-Genekal's Office, 
ItlCUMOND, March 13, 1SC2. 

"GENERAL ORDERS, 
No. 14. 

" General Kobert E. Lee is assigned to duty at the seat of Government; 
and, under the direction of the President, is charged with the conduct of mili- 
tary operations in the armies of the Confederacy. 

*' By command of the Secretary of War, 

S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector- Genercd. 



MATTERS AT CENTREVILLE. 51 



III. 

THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN. 

Mabch — August, 1862. 



I. 

MATTERS AT CENTREVILLE. 

In its effects upon the country, the victory at Manassas was 
the greatest misfortune that could have befallen the South. It 
gave to the people of the Confederacy a foolish idea that the 
North had received a mortal wound. The victory had been 
greatly magnified by the press, and its importance ridiculously 
exaggerated. The Southern people became intoxicated with 
their triumph. They thought that this one barren success had 
practically ended the war, — a delusion which was materially 
increased by the declaration of the Secretary of War, Mr. 
Benjamin, during the autumn and winter, that peace would be 
concluded " in ninety days." They did not, or would not, 
reflect that the army which had been routed on the banks of 
Bull Run, was merely a temporary affair, and far inferior in 
every respect to the host which the Federal States could create. 
They shut their eyes to the tremendous effort that was being 
made in the North to retrieve the defeat which had befallen the 
urms of the Union, and with an infatuation as remarkable as it 
was disastrous in its effects, persisted in believing that the signs 



52 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

of the growing harmony and determination of their enemies were 
but evidences of their division and weakness. They could not, 
or would not, realize that the North Avas fighting for its exist- 
ence. 

Such infatuation, such blindness, must have been wilful. 
There were ample opportunities of learning the intentions and 
acts of the Federals. The Northern newspapers were filled 
with accounts of the extraordinary efforts being made by their 
authorities to raise and equip new armies, and these statements 
were extensively copied by the Southern press, and confirmed 
by every person who came from the enemy's country. A few 
men in the South, such as Lee, the two Johnstons, Floyd, and 
some others, recognized the magnitude of the contest in which 
they were engaged, and repeatedly warned the people of their 
folly, but in vain. The Government, which had begun its 
existence with the terrible blunder of thinking there would be 
no war, — that a nation could achieve its freedom without a 
struggle, — now shared the popular delusion. 

The result was what might have been foreseen. Volunteer- 
ing soon ceased almost entirely. Even the heaviest bounties 
were impotent to bring recruits. The measures of the Confed- 
erate Congress were thinning instead of filling the ranks, and 
when the New Year dawned, there was reason to fear that the 
spring campaign would find the South without an army, for it 
was exceedingly doubtful whether the troops already in the 
service would renew their enlistments. General Floyd, it is 
true, had declared his belief to a member of the Confederate 
Congress that the Government would be forced to compel the 
service of its arms-bearino; citizens, but the President and his 
advisers had scouted this idea as preposterous. 

The Confederate Government began the war by trying to 
cover everything with its armies, — a blunder which the sad 
experience of Austria might have warned it against. The 



MATTERS AT CENTRE VILLE. 53 

adoption of this plan led to the formation of long, weak lines 
of defence, which simply afforded the enemy opportunities of 
attacking detached portions of them, and destroying or captur- 
ing tlie forces. The Federals were quick to profit by this. 
When the spring came, they had broken the line of defence in 
Kentucky, and had defeated or captured the forces at Forts 
Henry and Donelson, and Mill Spring, and had pushed the 
Western army back behind the Tennessee River, and on the 
coast had wrested from the Confederates the important positions 
of Port Royal and Roanoke Island. Everywhere, save in 
Northern Virginia, where as yet no collision had occurred, vic- 
tory perched upon the Northern eagles. 

Even these disasters were powerless to arouse the South- 
ern Government and Congress. The fact is the South was 
behind the age. The attempt to carry out the doctrine of 
State Rights had broken up the old Union, where its absurdity 
was fairly established in the efforts to administer the Govern- 
ment in accordance with it. However necessary the doctrine 
may have been at the period of the formation of the Federal 
Government, the necessity for it had long passed by. No gov- 
ernment can exist where the members are more powerful than, 
or independent of, the common head. In a Revolution espe- 
cially, there must be but one mind to plan, one will to com- 
mand and execute. The Confederate leaders, however, could 
not be made to understand this. They had embarked in a 
Revolution which required the exercise of the greatest boldness 
and firmness. Scarcely had they commenced their new career 
before they began to exhibit a pitiful fear of the States, and an 
astonishing lack of resource and fertility of expedients. Al- 
though they had cast aside the old Government, they brought 
its quai'rels and jealousies into the new ; and in consequence of 
these things, but few of the truly great men of the South had 
been drawn into the Government or Congress, neither of which 



54 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

bodies devised any great measures, or ever rose to the height 
demanded by the occasion. Hereafter, when the historian shall 
seek for traces of wisdom and genius on the part of the South- 
ern leaders, it is to the army that he must turn. The civil 
branch of the Confederacy never showed genius, and rarely 
exhibited wisdom, and its unfitness for the task assigned it was 
the crushing load that finally ruined the cause. 

This weakness prevented the President and his cabinet from 
listening to the advice of the commanders of their armies, who 
counselled the voluntary abandonment of the frontier and the 
concentration of the forces where they could be useful and not 
exposed to such certain disaster. Never during the whole war 
was this advice heeded, and the sound military conceptions of 
such men as Lee and Johnston were thrown aside for fear of 
offending certain Governors of States, or sundry local politi- 
cians, who, like the Government, were incapable of appre- 
ciating the duty of the hour. 

The same weakness induced the Government and Congress 
to rely upon voluntary enlistments to recruit the armies. They 
were afraid of encroaching upon some of the rights of the States 
by adopting a general conscription law. They hesitated long 
when their good sense must have shown them the danger of 
delay ; and it was not until the Federal forces were menacing 
the Capital itself that they passed the " Conscription Bill," 
which went into operation in May, 1862. The haste with 
which this Bill was adopted necessarily made it very defective ; 
but the frequent revisions which it received at the hands of the 
Congress failed to make it either acceptable to the people, or 
as beneficial to the army as it might have been. 

Certainly it was necessary that the people should be forced 
into the military service if the war was to be carried on, but it 
was very unfortunate that some other plan than that chosen 
was not used. That sweeping measure at once created the 



MATTERS AT CENTRE VILLE. 55 

greatest dissatisfaction in the South ; and very reasonably, too, 
for it was conscription in its most odious form. Then, too, to 
execute the law required the withdrawal of at least an army 
corps in numbers from the field. It would have been far better 
to have taken the plan afterwards pursued by the Federal Gov- 
ernment, — that of determining the number of troops wanted, 
and assigning to each State its proper quota, and then drawing 
for them. In this way recruits could have been gained as 
readily as by conscription, and the country would not have been 
crippled and outraged as it was by the barbarous measure upon 
which the Congi'ess blundered.* 

On the 1st of March 1862, however, the Congress was still 
hesitating, trying to devise some measure for filling up the ar- 
mies. It had, during the winter, adopted what was known as the 
" Furlough and Bounty Law," a measure which offered a heavy 
bounty and a furlough to every soldier who would reenlist for 
the war. The bounty was to be paid at a later period, but the 
furlough was to be granted during the winter. Many of those 
who went home on these furloughs did so with the intention of 
remaining there ; and the measure, in the course of the winter, 
reduced the strength of the army of Northern Virginia by more 
than twenty thousand men. 

After the battle of Manassas in July, 1861, General John- 
ston assumed the chief command of the Southern Army of the 
Potomac. He had an arduous task before him. The army 
being composed of raw troops and of a people habitually im- 
patient of restraint, it was necessary first to reorganize the 
whole body. The battle of Manassas had greatly demoralized 
the troops. " We were," says General Johnston, " almost 
as much disorganized by our victory, as the Federals by their 

* I am happy to leara that I am supported in this opinion by General J. E. 
Johnston. See Swinton's " Campaigns of the Armji of the Potomac." p. 
572. 



56 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

defeat. Many, supposing the war was over, actually went 
home. A party of our soldiers, hearing that a friend lay 
wounded twenty miles off, would start out to go and see him ; 
or another, that an acquaintance was dead, and they would go 
and bury him. Our men had in a larger degree the instinct of 
personal liberty than those of the North ; and it was found very 
difficult to subordinate their personal will to the needs of mil- 
itary discipline." * Unfortunately the Southern armies were 
never in a state of perfect control. General Lee once said, " I 
could always rely on my army for fighting, but its discipline 
was poor." One reason of this lack of discipline was the fact 
that the officers, below the grade of brigadier-general, were 
elected by the troops, and those who hoped for such favors at 
the hands of their comx-ades, too frequently earned their popu- 
larity by relaxing the authority which is as necessary to an ar- 
my as pure air to the human organization. This was a great 
evil during the whole war, and eventually did much to ruin the 
army. 

By diligent efforts General Johnston at length succeeded in 
bringing the disorderly mass Into shape. By October the work 
of reorganization was almost accomplished. The forces on the 
Potomac, consisting of the Army of the Shenandoah, originally 
commanded by General Johnston, and the Army of the Poto- 
mac, the original command of General Beauregard, were con- 
solidated, under the title of the " Army of Northern Virginia," 
General Johnston holding the chief command. This force oc- 
cupied a strong position on the heights of Centreville, and de- 
tachments from it held various points on the Potomac River, 
where, by means of efficient batteries, they closed the naviga- 
tion of the stream, and blockaded the Federal Capital. A divi- 
sion, under Major General T. J. Jackson, was stationed In the 
Valley of Virginia to hold It against the enemy. A small force 

* " Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac." p. 59. 



MATTERS AT CENTREVILLE. 57 

was thrown forward to Leesburg on the Upper Potomac, to ob- 
serve the enemy and keep open the communication between 
Winchester and Centreville ; and a division under Major-Gen- 
eral Holmes held the line of the Rappahannock, and guarded 
the rear of the main army. On the 31st of October 1861, 
there were present for duty at all these points forty-four 
thousand one hundred and thirty- one men of all arms. By 
the first of January 1862, sixty-two thousand one hundred and 
twelve were present for duty. (Absent from various causes, — 
chiefly on furlough, thirty -five thousand nine hundred and 
seventy-six) . 

During the fall and winter. General Johnston was greatly 
embarrassed in his movements by the failure of the Govern- 
ment to cooperate with him as he had a right to expect. One 
of the chief difiiculties under which he labored was a want of 
supplies. His army never had more than one day's provisions 
in advance, and sometimes the rations were short. He had 
lU'ged the Government to establish depots of provisions and 
military stores with his army, hoping in this way to secure food 
enough for his men to enable him to strike a blow at the Fed- 
erals before their preparations for the next campaign should be 
completed. The Commissary-General, however, treated all 
such appeals with contempt, and not unfrequently responded to 
them with coarse insults. The President sustained Colonel 
Northrop, and General Johnston was forced to confine himself 
to a strict defensive, the evils of which he clearly foresaw. It 
was not certain either that the army would always be supplied, 
for it was connected with Richmond by only a single-track 
railway, which might be cut by the enemy at any moment. 
Besides this, all the supplies had to be hauled from Manassas 
to Centreville over wretched roads, an undertaking both difficult 
and expensive. However, it was not possible to overrule Col- 
onel Northrop. 



58 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

As I shall have frequent occasion to refer to the gross mis- 
management of the Commissariat of the Confederacy, it may 
be well to devote a few words here to the official holding the 
place of Commissary-General under the Confederate Govern- 
ment. 

Colonel Northrop in some manner succeeded in gaining the 
friendship of Mr. Davis when they were both lieutenants in the 
United States Army, during the Black Hawk war. After the 
latter left the army, he did not meet with his friend for twenty 
years. In the meantime, Northrop removed to Charleston, 
S. C. (having resigned his commission), where he became a 
parish doctor, and at one time was a patient in a lunatic asylum. 
When Mr. Davis was made President of the Confederacy, he 
bethought him of his old friend, and offered him the important 
post of Commissary-General. This measure occasioned great 
surprise throughout the country, and Colonel Northrop's unfit- 
ness for his post was represented to the President more than 
once, but without effect. Mr. Davis would not desert his 
friend, and sustained him against the whole country. Indeed 
the fiercer the opposition to the Colonel, the more tenaciously 
did the President cling to him. General Lee frequently charged 
him with incompetency, and urged the President to remove 
him. In a letter written January 22d, 1864, he particularly 
urged this.* 

The conduct of Colonel Northrop was in itself enough to 
ruin the Southern cause. He was entirely ignorant of the 
duties of his office, and utterly incapable of learning them. He 
would brook no interfei'ence from any one, and, secure in the 
favor of the President, treated his superior officers with con- 
tempt, and replied to their aj)peals for food for their troops 
with coarse insults. He publicly declared that no general liad 

* A Rebel War Clerk's Diary. Vol. ii. p. 147, 



MATTERS AT CENTKEVILLE. 59 

a right to issue orders to him, and refused to obey any com- 
mands except those of Mr. Davis.* His mismanagement and 
brutality starved the army in the midst of plenty, robbed the 
people, and in the end caused all classes to distrust and dislike 
the Government. Yet when Senator Orr, on the 18th of Jan- 
uary 1864, when the cause was on the verge of the destruction 
to which Colonel Northrop had contributed so greatly, waited 
on Mr. Davis to ask the removal of the Commissary- General, 
the President declared to him that Colonel Northrop was one 
of the greatest geniuses in the South, and that, if he had the 
physical capacity he would put him at the head of an army.t 
Mr. Davis must have known the fearful sufferings of his starvino- 
armies, for every child in the South had wept over them : he 
must have known that his friend had produced the famine, for 
it was evident to all, and he was furnished with proofs too 
plain and truthful to be doubted. Yet he kept this man in a 
position to cause more suffering, and that too in defiance of the 
Constitution, for he did not dare to send his name to the Senate 
for confirmation, as he knew that body would reject him. In 
view of all this, do I err in charging upon President Davis the 
responsibility for the sufferings of the soldiers of the South? 
Heaven knows I pity Mr. Davis in his troubles, and would not 
willingly add to them — but the truth of history must be vindi- 
cated, and it is due to the Southern army that they should 
know what I have written. 

During the winter the army suffered much from an insuffici- 
ency of clothing and shoes. The Quartermaster's Department 
was deficient in the energy and ability necessary to provide for 
the wants of the troops, and too sadly afilicted with dishonesty 
to do what really lay in its power. 

The absence of competent Engineer officers was also greatly 

♦ A Eebel War Clerk's Diary. Vol. ii. p. 188. 
t A Rebel War Clerk'8 Diary. Vol. ii. p. 131. 



60 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

felt. Those who were employed were principally Civil Engi- 
neers, who were ignorant of, or inexperienced in the duties of a 
military engineer, and as late as the middle of August 1861, 
General Johnston was left without a staif officer of this branch 
of the service capable of discharging the slightest duty apper- 
taining thereunto. | 

The staff was also unorganized, and the lack of such officers 
was not the least of the difficulties which had to be encountered. 
Those who had gained some insight into these duties in the 
" old army," were assigned to other positions, and the Govern- 
ment made no effort to supply the deficiency. Every Govern- 
ment but that of the South has always made the staff the object 
of its especial care ; but Mr. Davis bitterly opposed all plans 
for the formation of this branch upon the basis so successfully 
adopted in Europe, and even after several years of constant 
proof of its great necessity, refused to execute the law of Con- 
gress until two days before the evacuation of Petersburg. 
Throughout the war, General Lee, General Johnston, and 
others of similar rank were allowed but an insufficient number 
of aides-de-camp. Military men will readily comprehend the 
magnitude of this blunder. 

The arms of the troops were not always good, though this 
could not be remedied then. It was difficult to procure arms 
of any description, and it was not until a later period that cap- 
tures, importations, and the Government manufactures placed 
the army on an efficient footing in this respect. 

These were some of the difficulties against which General 
Johnston had to contend. He persevered, however. Towards 
the close of February he found it necessary to put a stop to the 
system of furloughs, in order to prevent his command from 
melting away, and in the campaign which ensued, the Army 
of Northern Virginia stepped at once into the place which it 
wiU always hold in the history of the struggle. 



MATTERS AT CENTRE VILLE. 61 

Few armies have ever had more to be proud of. It was 
recruited from tlie flower of the Southern population, and for 
four years was the chief support of its cause. When others 
doubted, these men always had faith. Whether they succeeded 
or failed, their devotion to the South always shone out bravely. 
Hungry, half naked, bruised and torn by the rugged ground 
over which they marched barefooted, contending as no other 
soldiers ever did before, against a powerful foe, their superior 
in everything but coux'age, these men were true and devoted to 
the last, and they have won a fame that shall endure as long as 
true manhood is valued, or valor honored. Well have they 
deserved the tribute which the ablest military critic of the North 
has paid them. " Who," says he, " can ever forget it that 
once looked upon it, that array of ' tattered uniforms and bright 
muskets?' That body of incomparable infixntry, the Army of 
Northern Virginia — which for four years carried the Revolt on 
its bayonets, opposing a constant front to the mighty concen- 
tration of power brought against it ; which, receiving terrible 
blows, did not fail to give the like ; and which vital in all its 
parts, died only with its annihilation." * 

The 1st of March 1862, found this army lying along the 
Potomac, from the Valley of Virginia to the neighborhood of 
Fredericksburg. Its muster rolls showed eighty-four thousand 
two hundred and twenty-five names, but of these only forty- 
seven thousand six hundred and seventeen were present for 
duty. Yet these were ready for the campaign. Among the 
division commanders were Jackson, Longstreet, Ewell, and 
Hill, and among the subordinates, many whose names were 
afterwards glorious. Stuart, the betm sabreiir of the South, 
led the cavalry, and Pendleton was chief of artillery. 

Such was the condition of affairs in Virginia when the cam- 
paign opened. 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 16. 



62 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 



11. 

THE FEDERAL PLAN OF THE CAMPAIGN. 

The defeat of McDowell's army at Manassas was a blessing 
in diss^uise to the Federal Government. It showed the North 
the nature of the undertaking upon which it had ventured, and 
the worthlessness of its previous ideas of conquest. It con- 
vinced the Federal authorities that their armies must be some- 
thing more than mobs. The disaster was galling to the North, 
but it was borne better than the triumph of the South. When 
the first feelings of gloom and despondency had passed away, 
the United States set to work energetically to build up new 
armies and a navy. Every one saw that the work must all be 
done over from the beginning, and it was done bravely and 
thoroughly. Dissensions in the North were ended, and the 
Government was sustained in everything. New levies were 
made, a heavy loan negotiated with the New York banks, and 
vessels were chartered, purchased and built for the navy. The 
measures of President Lincoln and his advisers were prompt 
and decisive. They were also practical and sensible. Well 
would it have been for the South, could her Executive have 
been blessed with the homely wisdom of his Northern rival. 

I do not mean to advocate all the measures of the Federal 
Government at this period. Many were despotic and arbitrary, 
and have been justly and severely condemned. Still no one 
can deny that the despotism of the North was well managed 
and necessary to its success. The Constitution was not suited 
to the task before Mr. Lincoln, and he was wise enough to 
know this. His measures were consistent and directed towards 



THE FEDERAL PLAN OF THE CAMPAIGN. 63 

one steadfast end, and were not, like those of the other side, 
weak, wavering, and odious to his people. 

It had been understood from the first that the principal 
struggle of the war Avould be in Virginia, and after the defeat 
of McDowell, the Federal Government proceeded to collect 
another army at Washington. The command of this force was 
given to ]\Iajor-General George B. McClellan, whose exploits 
in Western Virginia I have already noticed. 

The new commander was one of whom it is difficult to form 
a just estimate. He entered upon his duties with a flattering 
reputation, and it was confidently expected by iiis countrymen 
that he would, with the force at his command, destroy the army 
of General Johnston and capture Richmond. As we shall see, 
he failed in both of these objects, but he had, at the same time, 
much to contend against in the opposition of certain of his 
countrymen and the interference of his Government, after the 
campaign had actually begun. In the old service General 
McClellan had been regarded as one of its most promising 
officers, and had been a member of the Commission sent to 
Europe by President Pierce, to report upon the military organ- 
izations of the Old World, with a view to remedying the 
defects in his own. His success in Western Viro-inia made him 
the most distinguished commander in the North, and indicated 
him as the proper person to take charge of the new army in 
Virginia. He was undoubtedly the ablest commander that 
army ever had, but, after a careful review of the events in 
which he bore a part, I cannot call him a great general. He 
was better in the council than in the field, and could plan better 
than he could execute. There were about all his operations a 
hesitation and a lack of vigor which are unknown to a great 
soldier, and when one considers the advantages his army pos- 
sessed over that of his adversary, it is surprising that he did 
not accomplish more. There can be no doubt, however, that 



64 LIFE OF GENEKAL LEE. 

he gradually improved as time wore on, and, from the promise 
which the closing days of his career gave, his admirers certainly 
have good grounds for believing that his campaign in the fall 
of 18 62 would have been max'ked by more ability than he ever 
displayed. Besides this, he had the quality of attaching his 
troops to him and arousing their warmest enthusiasm for him, 
a quality which only a good soldier can possess. 

The task before General McClellan was similar to that which 
had occupied General Johnston during the fall of 1861. The 
Federal army was in a disorganrzed condition, and it was 
necessary, first of all, to breathe new life into it. Unlike Gen- 
eral Johnston, however. General McClellan could rely upon his 
Government to sustain him to the utmost in the task before 
him. The Northern President wisely left the work of reorgan- 
ization to the man he had chosen for it, and responded liberally 
and promptly to every demand made upon him. The result 
was what would have happened to the Southern army had Mr. 
Davis been less vain and intolerant. 

General iNIcClellan assumed the command of the army on 
the 27th of July, 1861. It numbered then a little over fifty- 
one thousand men, including less than one thousand cavalry, 
and was provided with nine field batteries of thirty pieces. It 
had lost almost the semblance of military organization, and was 
being rapidly thinned by desertion. He set to work vigorously, 
and soon checked the desertions. He procured the passage of 
a law by Congress, authorizing the President to relieve from 
command incompetent officers, and during the fall got rid of 
several hundred of this class. The new recruits were at once 
put to work to learn their profession, and the regiments, brig- 
ades, and divisions were systematically organized. Fortunately 
for the United States, there remained in the regular service a 
number of educated artillery officers, and these were put to 
work, not, as in the Southern army, to learn other branches of 



THE FEDERAL PLAN OF THE CAMPAIGN. 65 

the service, bufc to organizing and drilling the artillery^ where 
they were most useful. With equal energy the engineer ser- 
vice was created and improved. The staff also was organized 
upon a moi*e useful plan than the Southern Executive saw fit to 
adopt. AVhen the Army of the Potomac took the field in 
1862, it numbered (including all its branches) two hundi'ed 
and twenty-one thousand, nine hundred and eighty-seven men, 
of all arms (counting twenty-five regiments of cavalry), and 
was provided with ninety-two batteries of five hundred and 
twenty guns, and with an engineer corps, and trains, and bridge 
equipage adequate for a first-class army. Its Commissariat and 
Quartermaster's departments were also well organized, and ably 
administered. 

In accomplishing this task, General McClellan exliibited not 
only great administrative ability, but also great genius. To 
him the Army of the Potomac was indebted throughout the 
war for the organization and discipline which sustained it amid 
its heaviest reverses, and this, if nothing else, should entitle him 
to its gratitude. It is true that he enjoyed a great advantage 
over General Johnston, in having a Government willing and 
anxious to sustain him in his labors, and that he had many 
more resources to draw upon than the Confederates possessed, 
but still he is entitled to unstinted praise for the masterly abil- 
ity with which he performed the work. 

In October the Army of the Potomac was ready for active 
service, and its condition and discipline were such as to induce 
the North to expect success for it. During the process of cre- 
ating it, the people and Government of the North had refrained 
from urging a premature commencement of hostilities, but as 
soon as it was known that it was ready for the field, there was 
manifested a very decided desire for something decisive before 
the v'inter should render active operations impossible. 

The Army of Northern Virginia, during this time, lay in the 
9 



66 LITE OF GENERAL LEE. 

neighborhood of Centreville, with its outposts pushed forward 
as far as Mason's, Munson's, and Upton's Hills, from which 
points its colors could be seen, and its drums heard at Wash- 
ington. This species of bravado was as galling to the North 
as it was gratifying to the South, and the press and Govern- 
ment strongly urged General McClellan to put a stop to it. A 
little later, the blockade of the Potomac created no slight indig- 
nation in the North, and the people became still more urgent 
for a forward movement upon General McClellan's part. 

Influenced by this state of affairs. General McClellan, about 
the middle of October, seriously entertained the plan of ad- 
vancing upon Manassas. Even if he had left half of his force 
in garrison at Washington, Baltimore, and Annapolis, and 
alono; the line of the Potomac, he would have had a column for 
active operations of about seventy-five thousand men, — thirty 
thousand more than the Confederates could muster. The. 
weather was unusually favorable for his advance, and the roads 
were in better condition than they had been at that season for 
several years. 

There was much to be gained by such a course. With the 
army at his command, he could have reasonably counted on 
fighting with a fair prospect of success, and had General Johns- 
ton retired from Centreville to the line of the Rapidan, which 
he assuredly would have done, in consequence of the condition 
in which his Government had placed him,* the moral effect at 
the North would have been powerful. General McClellan 
seems to have appreciated this, for in his report he thus speaks 
of the results that might follow such a movement : — 

"Assuming the success of this operation, and the defeat of 
the enemy as certain, the question at once arises as to the im- 
portance of the results gained. I think these results would be 
confined to the possession of the field of battle, the evacuation 

♦ Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 73. 



THE FEDERAL PLAN OF THE CAMPAIGN. 67 

of the line of the Upper Potomac by the enemy, and the moral 
effect of the victory; important results, it is true, but not 
decisive of the war, nor securing the destruction of the enemy's 
main army, for he could fall back upon other positions, and 
fight us again and again, should the condition of his troops 
permit."* 

Certainly if General McClellan considered these advantages 
within his grasp, and that he did is proved by his own words, 
he was most culpable in not trying to secure them. Had Gen- 
eral Johnston regarded it as possible to gain such advantages 
over McClellan, the effort would have been made. More than 
this, the Federal commander would have silenced and satisfied 
his Government and people by such a success, and could have 
entered upon the spring campaign with the prestige which he 
lost by his backwardness. 

The plan was suffered to lie over, however, and the fall and 
winter were spent in idleness. This, as it happened, was no 
gain to the South, as the Confederate Government would not 
take advantage of the delay thus granted it. Meantime Gen- 
eral McClellan had turned his attention to another plan of 
operations, namely, a movement of his army to the Lower 
Chesapeake, and an advance upon Richmond from that direc- 
tion. His imagination pictured to him a brilliant plan of 
operations in this quarter, which he stated as follows, in a letter 
to the Secretary of War : — 

*' A movement in force on that line, obi' ;ps t;,,. enemy to 
abandon his intrenched line at Manassas, in order to hasten 
to cover Richmond and Norfolk. He must do this ; for, should 
he permit us to occupy Richmond, his destruction can be avert- 
ed only by entirely defeating us in a battle in which he must be 
the assailant. This movement, if successful, gives us the Cap- 
ital, the communications, the supplies of the Rebels. Norfolk 

* McClellan's Official Report. (Sheldon & Co.'s Edition.) p. 103. 



00 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

would fall ; all the waters of the Chesapeake would be ours ; 
all Virginia would be in our power, and the enemy forced to 
abandon Tennessee and North Carolina. * * Should we be 
beaten in a battle, we have a perfectly secure retreat down the 
Peninsula upon Fort Monroe, with our flank perfectly covered 
by the fleet. During our whole movement our left flank is 
covered by the water ; our right is secure, for the reason that 
the enemy is too distant to reach us in time ; he can only op- 
pose us in front ; we bring our fleet into full play. After a 
successful battle, our position would be, Burnside forming our 
left, Norfolk held securely, our centre connecting Burnside with 
Buell, both by Ealeigh and Lynchburg. Buell in Eastern 
Tennessee and Northern Alabama, Halleck at Nashville and 
Memphis. The next movement would be to coamect with Sher- 
man on the left, by reducing Wilmington and Charleston ; to 
advance our centre into South Carolina and Georgia ; to push 
Buell either towards Montgomery, or to unite with the main 
army in Georgia ; to throw Halleck southward to meet the na- 
val expedition from New Orleans. We should then be in a 
condition to reduce, at our leisure, all the Southern seaports ; 
to occupy all the avenues of communication ; to use the great 
outlets of the Mississippi ; to reestablish our government and 
arms in .Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas ; to force the slaves 
to labor for our subsistence, instead of that of the rebels ; to 
bid defiance to all foreign interference." 

Such was the magnificent future which ' ' The Young Napo- 
leon " saw before him. He proposed to accomplish all this by 
landing his army on the Rappahannock, at or near Urbana, 
marching to West Point at the head of the York, and from 
there to Richmond. He was willing, however, if circumstances 
prohibited his using Urbana as his base, to land at Mob Jack 
Bay, or, " the worst coming to the worst," to take Fort Mon- 
roe as a base, so anxious was he to attack Richmond from the 
east. 



THE FEDERAL PLAN OF THE CAMPAIGN. 69 

This plan was laid before President Lincoln and his Cabinet 
early in the year 1862. It met with decided opposition from 
the first. jNIr. Lincoln and his advisers were afraid to with- 
draw the army from in front of the Capital, lest the Southern 
commander should seize the opportunity to make a dash upon 
the city. Mr. Lincoln favored the plan of a flank movement 
on Manassas for this reason, and also becau&e it would save 
time, and at that period prompt action was urgently demanded 
by the people. Both the President's plan and that of General 
McCIellan were meritorious, but the former promised more in 
its eiFect upon the country, a consideration at that time of the 
highest importance. Mr. Lincoln requested the General to 
state wherein the move to the Peninsula was to be preferred to 
a march upon Manassas. This request was complied with in 
the letter from which I have already quoted. The President 
then set aside the plan, and ordered a direct movement upon 
Manassas on or before the 22d of February. Gerueral McCIel- 
lan continued to urge his plan, and Mr. Lincol-o rescinded his 
order, and directed that a sufficient number of transports should 
be procured to convey the army to the Lower Chesapeake. 
Still he was not satisfied, and, although he had sanctioned the 
proposed change of base, on the 8th of March he issued an order 
prescribing the conditions upon which it should take place, 
which were that the movement should begin as early as the 
18th of the month ; that no change should be made without leav- 
ing for the protection of Washington such a force as would, in 
the opinion of the General-in-Chief and the commanders of army 
corps, render the city entirely secure ; and that no more than 
fifty thousand men should be moved en route for a new base of 
operations until the Potomac should be cleared of the Southern 
batteries and all other obstructions, or until the President should 
thereafter give express permission.* 

* McClellan's Keport. p. 117. 



70 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

This was sheer trifling on the part of the Government, and 
was highly embarrassing to General McClellan. Mr. Lincoln 
should either have required of that officer unqualified obedience 
to his order, or his resignation, if he did not intend to support 
him cordially in the Chesapeake movement. This, however, 
he did not do, but caused still more embarrassment by dividing 
the Army of the Potomac into four corps dJ'armee, and appoint- 
ing as their commanders officers whom General McClellan 
would not have chosen, and whom he did not think qualified 
for such important positions. 

Matters had assumed this condition when all parties were 
startled by the news from Manassas. 



III. 

GlENERAL JOHNSTON FALLS BACK. 

I have already mentioned that the maladministration of the 
Commissary-General prevented General Johnston from attempt- 
ing offensive operations. He was fully aware that it was a 
great error to leave McClellan in peace to complete the organ- 
ization of his forces. The true policy of the Confederates lay 
in compelling the Federal commander to fight before he was 
ready, and in hindering and crippling the organization of his 
army as much as possible. So fully did General Johnston ap- 
preciate this, that, in concert with General Beauregard and 
Major-General G. W. Smith, he drew up a plan for an offen- 
sive movement, which was submitted to Mr. Davis during one 
of his visits to headquarters. 

This plan proposed the immediate concentration, in the neigh- 
borhood of Manassas, of the greater portion of the forces scat- 
tered along the seacoast, and through Lower Virginia, which, 



GENERAL JOHNSTON FALLS BACK. 71 

added to the force already on the Potomac, would constitute a 
large and efficient army. With this army it Avas proposed to 
inaugurate a campaign north of the Potomac before General 
McClellan should have his army ready for the field. It was 
believed that the positions thus weakened would not be endan- 
gered, as it was almost absolutely certain that the enemy would 
call in their detached forces as rapidly as possible to meet the 
movement ; but even if some points on the coast should be lost, 
the disaster would be more than counterbalanced by the gain 
north of the Potomac. 

The plan was a good one, and in perfect accord with the 
soundest principles of military science. No better opportunity 
for an invasion of the enemy's country could be desired ; 
indeed as good an opportunity never occurred again. Had the 
plan been carried out, there can be no doubt that the Confed- 
erate army would have wintered on the Susquehanna, and that 
the spring campaign would have opened in Pennsylvania instead 
of Virginia. Then some of the disasters of 1862, if not all of 
them, would have been unknown.* 

The President, however, could not be induced to give his 
consent to the scheme. He was too thoroughly wedded to the 
policy of dispersion to be willing to risk the loss of some petty, 
insignificant coast town, even though Baltimore or Philadelphia 
Kiight be gained by it. He gravely proposed, as a substitute, 
the following : 

The Maryland shore, opposite the Confederate batteries at 
Evansport, was held by a single weak division under General 
Sickles. The Potomac is at this point about two miles wide, 
and above and below the batteries lay the Federal war steam- 
ers, and many sailing craft. The only way in which the Con- 

* This plan is substantially that which was proposed to the Confederate 
Government by Stonewall Jackson, only, however, to be treated with silent 
disdain. Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jaekson, pp. 86, 87, 88. 



72 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

federates could pass the river was by means of row-boats, and 
of these but a very limited number could be had. Mr. Davis 
proposed to make a descent upon Sickles' command, capture It, 
and bring off the prisoners. This remarkable plan, which 
would have resulted in the capture or destruction of the entire 
attacking force, was, of course, at once condemned by the able 
soldiers to whom it was proposed. It was dropped, and the 
President went back to Eichmond, having destroyed the best 
chance the South ever had for a successful campaign in the 
enemy's country. 

The autumn and winter wore away, the army still remaining 
on the defensive. McClellan's evident disinclination to attack 
him convinced General Johnston that the next attempt of the 
Federals would be made nearer Richmond, and his quick eye at 
once designated the Eappahannock as the locality from which 
the blow would be struck. Early in 1862, therefore, he rcoolved 
to abandon his position at Manassas, and occupy the line of the 
Rappahannock. This would not only ruin his adversary's plau 
of campaign, but would bring his own army within easier com- 
munication with its base, and render it less exposed to having 
its supplies intercepted by hostile raiding parties. 

Accordingly, in February, he commenced to remove the 
heavy guns from his works on Bull Run and the Potomac, and 
to send them, together with such public property as was worth 
carrying off, behind the Rappahannock. The works were sup- 
plied, in lieii, of artillery, with wooden logs and pieces of stove- 
pipe, which harmless weapons are known as " quaker guns," 
and held thus until everything was in readiness. 

The army was now about fifty thousand strong. Of this 
number General Jackson had six thousand with him in the 
Valley of Virginia, leaving forty-four thousand under General 
Johnston's immediate command. The forces at Leesburg and 
Evansport were called In, and on the 8th of March 1862, the 



GENERAL JOHNSTON FALLS BACK. 73 

army withdrew from Manassas, and moved towards the Rappa- 
hannock, destroying all the bridges after it. 

General Scott once declared that Joe Johnston's retreats 
were equal to victories. So well was this affair managed, that 
the enemy did not suspect it until the next day, when it was 
revealed to them by the smoke of the huts which the Confed- 
erates had fired upon their abandonment of them. General 
McClellan, upon being Informed that Johnston had retreated, 
attempted no pursuit, doubtless feeling sure that his wary ad- 
versary was too far away to be reached successfully ; but. In 
order to give his troops some experience In marching and biv- 
ouacking, advanced his whole army to Manassas on the 10th, 
having occupied the place on the 9th with two regiments of 
cavalry, under Colonel Averlll. A few days later a reconnols- 
sance, under General Stoneman, was made In the direction of 
Johnston's new position, but the wretched state of the roads 
prevented Stoneman from proceeding beyond Cedar Run. Leav- 
ing Sumner to hold Manassas with his corps, McClellan with- 
drew the main body of his army on the 11th, and returned to 
Alexandria. Sumner was soon relieved, but before this was 
done a strong body of infantry, under General Howard, ad- 
vanced to the Rappahannock on a reconnoissance. 

In the meantime General Johnston had caused careful sur- 
veys of the country to be made, and now, finding that the line 
of the Rapidan afforded a better defensive position than that 
of the Rappahannock, withdrew his army behind the former 
stream. 

The "capture" of Manassas, as It was termed, was repre- 
sented to the Northern people by their press as a decided gain. 
In its results it undoubtedly was, for It brought with it the 
abandonment of the blockade of the Potomac. The reader, 
however, will remember that all this was voluntarily relin- 
quished by the Confederates, who were more than compensated 
10 



74 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

for it by the greater advantages of their new position, and the 
destruction of General McCIellan's favorite plan of operations. 
Clearly the real advantage lay with General Johnston. 



IV. 
THE MOVE TO THE PENINSULA. 

The evacuation of Manassas, and the occupation of the line 
of the Eappahannock, and afterwards that of the Rapidan, by 
Genera] Johnston, showed General McClellan that his designs 
were understood and foiled. The new Southern line covered 
the approaches to Richmond in that quarter, and Urbana and 
Mob Jack Bay were no longer available. In the opinion of 
the Federal commander there now remained nothing but the 
move to the Peninsula, which he had declared ought to be 
adopted only in case the worst came to the worst, and which 
promised results less brilliant and decisive than the other plans,* 
and this he now decided to attempt. 

He submitted the matter to a Council of his Corps Com- 
manders at Fairfax Court House, on the 13th of March. 
They approved it, provided the Merrimac ( Virginia ) which 
had just appeared in Hampton Roads, could be neutralized ; 
that means could be at once procured for the transfer of the 
army from Alexandria down the Potomac to the new base ; 
that a naval force stronij enou2;h to silence the batteries on 
York River could be had ; and that Washington could be ren- 
dered safe by leaving a strong column for its protection. The 
proceedings of the Council were laid before the President, and 
sanctioned by him, he adding to the conditions enumerated, 
another — that Manassas Junction should be occupied by a 

* McCIellan's Report, p. 128. 



THE MOVE TO THE PENINSULA. 75 

force sufficient to prevent its capture by the Confederates. 
General McClellan at once began his preparations for his 
change of base. 

The Federal plan of campaign was as follows. Tlie main 
army, one hundred and twenty thousand strong, under General 
McClellan, was to embark at Washington and Alexandria, and 
occupy the Peninsula, using Fort Monroe as a base in its ad- 
vance against Richmond. McDowell's corps, forty thousand 
strong, was to follow McClellan as soon as possible, and this 
force he designed for a bold flank movement against the Con- 
federates, should they attempt to hold the Peninsula. Banks 
was to occupy Manassas and cover Washington with his corps, 
forty thousand strong. Fremont, who commanded in Western 
Virginia, and had under him a force of about thirty thousand 
men, was to descend from the mountains, and march upon the 
Southern Capital from the North. Such a combination, it was 
believed, would be irresistible, and Richmond would fall in the 
course of a few months. 

General McClellan was about this time deprived of the chief 
command of all the armies of the Union, which he had held 
since the retirement of General Scott, and directed to give his 
attention exclusively to the Army of the Potomac. A few 
days before he left the Potomac, Blenker's division (ten thou- 
sand men) was detached from his army, and ordered to join 
Fremont. 

The energy displayed by the Federal government, in provi- 
ding transportation for its army, was prodigious. Between the 
27th of February and the l()th of March " no fewer than four 
hundred steamers and sailing craft " were collected at Wash- 
ington and Alexandria, and upon them were transported to 
Fortress Monroe "an army of one hundred and twenty-one 
thousand, five hundred men, fourteen thousand, five hundred 
and ninety-two animals, forty-four batteries, and the wagons 



t^ LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

and ambulances, pontoon-trains, telegraph materials, and enor- 
mous equipage required for an army of such magnitude."* 
The embarkation commenced on the 17th of March, and in the 
course of a few weeks the army was safely transported, with 
the loss of but eight mules and nine barges. Such an under- 
taking had never before been accomplished with as much speed 
and success, and it reflects the highest credit upon General 
McClellan and Assistant Secretary of War, Tucker, who 
directed it. 

In going to the Peninsula, after declaring that such a course 
should be pursued only in case the worst came to the worst. 
General McClellan committed a grave fault. Napoleon has 
well said that, " A General is culpable who undertakes the 
execution of a plan which he considers faulty." Having pro- 
nounced such a decision upon the move to the Peninsula, I re- 
peat. General McClellan should not have made it. For my 
own part I do not consider the plan finally adopted by him 
" faulty." It contained much that was commendable, and had 
it been executed with boldness and decision, it would have 
been spared much of the failure which befell it. The hesitation 
and weakness of the Federal commander during the campaign, 
and not his plan of operations, were the causes of many of his 
reverses. Still, as he himself regarded the plan as defective, it 
was not good generalship to attempt to execute it. 

On the 1st of April, General McClellan embarked with the 
headquarters, on the steamer Commodore, and reached Fortress 
Monroe on the afternoon of the next day. 

In the meantime. General Johnston, who had been watching 
the movements of the Federal commander, had been gradually 
drawing his army nearer to Richmond, feeling assured that it 
would be needed there. Finally, the Confederate Government 
having resolved to make a stand on the Peninsula, General 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 100. 



A GOOD FIGHT. 77 

Johnston put his army in motion for the lines of Yorktown. 
It commenced to pass through Richmond on the 5th of April, 
and by the 7th the vanguard had reached Magruder's position. 



A GOOD FIGHT. 

Lying to the southeast of Richmond, and between that city 
and the Chesapeake Bay, is a narrow neck of land enclosed 
between the James and York rivers, and known as the Penin- 
sula. Properly speaking, it terminates at West Point, the head 
of York River, but since 1862 the term has been applied to all 
the region between Richmond and the Bay, lying between the 
Pamunkey and the York, and the James rivers. There is a 
railroad from Richmond to West Point, the York being navi- 
gable to its head for large vessels ; and several good roads 
diverge from the city to the various points on the Peninsula, 
terminating finally at Fortress Monroe. 

It was believed by the Confederate authorities from the 
outset, that the enemy would attempt to reach the Capital from 
this direction, and a small force was sent to Yorktown in May 
1861, by the State of Virginia, for the protection of this region, 
and the command was given to Colonel John B. Magruder, 
who by the new year had been advanced to the grade of Major 
General. With his little band, Magruder fortified the Penin- 
sula at various points, and during the period intervening 
between the battle of Bethel, and McClellan's arrival at Fortress 
Monroe, succeeded in keeping the Federals confined to their 
intrenched camps at Newport News, and Hampton. His force 
was at first only three thousand strong, and never amounted to 



78 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

more than fifteen thousand. The enemy could generally muster 
a larger army, and the strategy to which Magruder was obliged 
to resort was original as well as successful. 

Just in sio^ht of the Federal pickets at Newport News was a 
clump of woods. The road left it abruptly, and, passing in 
full view of the enemy's works, reentered it at a point lower 
down. At frequent intervals Magruder would issue a stirring 
battle-order, and start in the direction of the enemy. Arriving 
at the point where the road left the woods, he would keep his 
men marching for hours along its exposed portion, all the while 
moving them in a circle. In this way he constantly deceived 
the enemy as to his strength, which they estimated at twice 
what it really was, and as they did not feel strong enough to 
meet him, they remained within their own lines. General 
Mao-ruder's policy was to avoid a general engagement, and in 
this, as I have said, he was successful. His constant change 
of position also did much to preserve the health of his troops, 
which was one of his principal objects, as he was operating in 
the most unhealthy section of Virginia. 

General Magruder prepared as his real line of defence, posi- 
tions in advance at Harwood's and Young's Mills. Both flanks 
of this line were defended by bogs and streams which were 
almost impassable, and also by the fortifications at Ship Point 
on the left, and those at the mouth of the Warwick River and 
at Mulberry Island Point, on the right. It was believed by 
General Magruder that with twenty-five thousand troops, this 
line, with its flank defences, could be held against any force the 
enemy could muster.* As his command was too small to 
attempt this, he caused a second line to be constructed on War- 
wick River. 

The Warwick River rises in a succession of salt marshes 
about a mile and a half to the right of Yorktown. Here, and 

* General Magruder's Report of tlie Peninsula Campaign. 



A GOOD FIGHT. 79 

for some distance farther to the left, it is merely a sluggish, 
boggy stream, and rurts through a country densely wooded and 
containing many difficult swamps. Along this river were two 
dams, one at Wynne's Mill, and the other at Lee's Mill. 
Three more were constructed by General Magruder. These 
dams raised the headwaters of the stream so high that it was 
for three-fourths of its course impracticable for either infantry 
or artillery. 

Along this river General Magruder constructed his second 
line. The left rested on the York River at Yorktown, which 
was strongly fortified. Heavy redoubts, " united by long cur- 
tains, and flanked by rifle pits," extended from Yorktown to the 
headwaters of , the Warwick, and from the latter point to 
Wynne's and Lee's Mills and the artificial dams, each of these 
points being protected by extensive earthworks well supplied 
with artillery. The right was at Mulberry Island, on the 
James, and was united to Lee's Mill by a series of works 
similar to those already described. From a short distance 
below Lee's Mill to the mouth of the stream, the Warwick was 
guarded by the Southern gunboats. The Lower James was pro- 
tected by the Confederate iron-clad steamer Virginia, and the 
left of the line was still further defended by the fortifications at 
Gloucester Point on the north side of the York. This line 
was thirteen and a half miles in length, but, owing to the 
withdrawal from General Magruder of a thousand negroes who 
had been at work on it, it was incomplete when McClellan 
reached Old Point. 

In March, 1862, the Army of the Peninsula numbered fif- 
teen thousand men. Only a few days before the campaign 
opened, thirty-five hundred were detached by the Government, 
and sent to General Randolph, at Suffolk, Virginia. This left 
General Magruder but eleven thousand five hundred men, of 
all arms. Of these he was compelled to place in garrison at 



80 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Gloucester Point, Yorktown, and Mulberry Island, six thou- 
sand men, which during the ensuing campaign could not be 
withdrawn from those places. For the defence of the remain- 
der of his line, — thirteen miles in length, — General Magi'uder 
could collect only five thousand five hundred men. Slight 
detachments of this little band, for purposes of observation, 
held the first line, with orders to fall back to the second if the 
enemy appeared in force. 

This was the condition of affairs on the Peninsula on the 2d 
of April, 1862. 

When General McClellan reached Fortress Monroe, fifty- 
eight thousand infantry and one hundred pieces of artillery had 
arrived there. With this force he left Old Point on the 4th of 
April, for the purpose of attacking Magruder. His design was 
to move in two columns up the Peninsula. The first, consist- 
ing of three divisions (Porter's, Hamilton's, and Sedgwick's), 
and one regiment of cavalry, under General Heintzelman, was 
to move direct upon Yorktown, by the road leading from Hamp- 
ton to that place. With this column it was hoped to take 
Magruder by surprise, and drive him from his intrenchments. 
The second column, consisting of two divisions (Smith's and 
Couch's), and the Fifth Eegular Cavalry, under General Keyes, 
was to move by the James River road, cross the Warwick at 
Lee's Mill, and occupy the Halfway House on the road between 
Yorktown and Williamsburg, in the rear of Magruder's posi- 
tion. In consequence of the imperfect nature of the maps 
with which he was furnished, General McClellan was ignorant 
of the existence of the works to the right of Wynne's Mill, 
and supposed that Magruder had left the road to his rear open 
by failing to protect the crossing at Lee's Mill. He hoped, by 
occupying the Halfway House, and making a vigorous attack 
on Yorktown, to force Magruder either to capitulate or take 
the chances of being cut to pieces. Thus he expected by rapid 



A GOOD FIGHT. 81 

movements to drive the Confcclemtes before hiin, or capture 
them, open the James River, and press on to Richmond before 
the city could be reenforced from other quarters. It was a good 
plan, but it seems strange that General McClellan should have 
taken it for granted that so old a soldier as Magruder would 
leave the road to his rear so completely at the mercy of his 
enemies. It was not until the afternoon of the 4th of April 
that General Keyes learned that Lee's Mill Avas held by the 
Confederates, and even then McClelhxn supposed it would be an 
easy matter to put them to flight. 

The Southern detachments at Ship Point, Harwood's and 
Young's Mills, fell back before the advancing Federal columns, 
and rejoined their main body at Yorktown. General Magruder 
hoped the enemy would halt at his first line, and thus give him 
more time, but as they continued to advance, he boldly prepared 
to resist them. It was, at this time, of the highest importance 
that his line should be held, and though he could bring but so 
small a force to the task, he characteristically resolved to main- 
tain his position, or sell it as dearly as possible. By placing in 
the redoubts only enough men to manage the artillery, and 
" stringing" his infantry along the rifle-pits, he barely contrived 
to make his five thousand men cover his line. It was a bold 
step, but it was necessary. The odds were fearful, and had 
McClellan possessed the determination which won Marlborough 
the lines of Mehaigne and Bouchain, nothing could have saved 
the heroic army of the Peninsula from destruction or capture. 

Early in the afternoon of the 5th, the column of General 
Heintzelman was brought to a halt before Yorktown, while that 
of Keyes was, almost simultaneously, unexpectedly checked by 
the works at Lee's Mill. Findinsf the Southern line stronger 
than he had anticipated, McClellan threw forward his whole 
force in a vigorous effort to discover the real strength and posi- 
tion of Magruder. This was continued with unabated vigor on 
11 



82 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

the 6th and 7th, and during these days the gunboats in York 
River kept up a sharp fire on the works at Yorktown. The 
result was that General McClellan was convinced ' ' that it was 
best to prepare for an assault, by the preliminary employment 
of heavy guns, and some siege operations. Instant assault 
would have been simple folly."* He was not alone in this 
opinion. General Keyes declared Magruder's line to be " one 
of the strongest ever opposed to an invading force in any coun- 
try," and believed that the troops then under McClellan could 
not carry it.f 

These were trying days to the Army of the Peninsula and 
its brave commander. The line was so long and the army so 
weak that it required more than ordinary energy and resolution 
in both to hold their ground. In spite of the odds against 
them, they did so, and they have their highest encomium in the 
language of the Federal commander which I have quoted. 



VI. 

THE SIEGE OF YOEKTOWN. 

The first attempts of the Federal army to feel the Southern 
position were thus repulsed, but General Magruder was by no 
means sure that the immediate danger was over. He could not 
be aware of the result of the good fight his men had made, and 
energetically prepared to receive another attack. The troops 
slept in the trenches and under arms. Still no attack was 
made. Several days passed away, and yet McClellan made no 
advance. Magruder was perplexed, but his mind was soon 
relieved. " In every direction in front of the Southern lines, 

* McClellan's Eeport (Sheldon & Co.'s Edition.) p. 162. 

t McClellan's Report (Sheldon and Co.'s Edition.) pp. 165, 166, 167, 168. 



THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN. SB 

through the intervening woods, and along the open fields, earth- 
works began to appear." General McClellan had laid siege to 
Yorktown. 

It was almost incredible, but it was nevertheless true. An 
army of fifty-eight thousand men and one hundred guns had 
been repulsed by five thousand men, and forced to resort to the 
tedious delay of a siege. Had General McClellan massed his 
troops and made a bold and determined dash at any part of the 
Southern line on the 5th, 6th, or 7th of April, he could have 
broken through it. Surely, if lines of equal strength could be 
carried when held by superior force, as in the days of Marl- 
borough and the " Old Masters" of the Art of War, it was 
possible for such an army as McClellan's to overwhelm the 
devoted few who opposed them on these memorable days. 

Meanwhile General Johnston had been sending his troops tc 
Magruder as rapidly as the limited transportation at his com 
mand would permit. The advance guard arrived on the 7th, 
and by the 17th, on which day General Johnston himself 
reached Yorktown, his whole army had joined Magruder. 
Troops were also sent to the Peninsula from Norfolk, and by 
the 20th of April the force under General Johnston was about 
fifty-three thousand strong, exclusive of some four or five thou- 
sand cavalry. 

McClellan's troops continued to arrive. By the 30th of April 
the Army of the Potomac had one hundred and fifteen thousand 
three hundred and fifty men present for duty,* together wdth 
about two hundred and fifty pieces of artillery. 

When General McClellan left the Potomac, he had been 
promised that McDowell's corps should be sent to him entire. 
With this, he intended, after reaching the Peninsula, to attempt 
to flank the Confederate position if he found it too strong to be 
carried by a direct assault. His intention was to land this 

♦ McClellan's Report, p. 53. 



84 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

corps in the rear of Gloucester Point; and, by turning that 
position and occupying West Point with it, compel the Con- 
federates to fall back from Yorktown. After he left the Poto- 
mac, however, the sudden dash of Stonewall Jackson upon 
Banks at Kernstown, rendered the Federal Government so un- 
easy for the safety of Washington, that it was decided to retain 
Banks in the Valley, and keep McDowell's corps on the Rappa- 
hannock for the protection of the Capital. This was a great 
disappointment to General McClellan, but it need not have been 
so severe a blow to him as he made it. He had over one hun- 
dred thousand men with him, and he might have easily executed 
the manoeuvre he had intended for McDowell with twenty-five 
thousand or thirty thousand of this force, and have had left a 
column of seventy-five thousand or seventy thousand men for a 
vigorous pursuit if Johnston evacuated Yorktown, as he as- 
suredly would have done. Therefore, it was simply the lack 
of a great 8oldiei''s daring that prevented the Federal com- 
mander from executing this manoeuvre, which General John- 
ston confidently expected to the last. 

Frequent reconnoissances satisfied McClellan that Dam No. 
1, the centre of the Southern line, was the weakest point in it. 
It was so situated that but one gun could be brought to bear on 
the enemy. On the 16th of April he crossed a strong force at 
this point. A brisk engagement ensued, in which the Confed- 
erates were, at first, worsted ; but at length, having been reen- 
forced, they drove the Federals back across the river, inflicting 
a considerable loss upon them. General McClellan was urged 
to make another effort to force the line here, but declined to do 
so, and thus lost another opportunity of severely damaging his 
adversary. 

The month of April wore on, the Federals working away at 
their approaches, and the Confederates strengthening their po- 
sition. Constant skirmishing occurred along the lines, but 
nothing of a decisive nature took place. 



THE SIEGE OF YOEKTOWN. 85 

The spring was very wet and disagreeable, and the Penin- 
sula, naturally marshy, was rendered nearly one general bog. 
The troops were almost entirely without shelter, and in many 
instances, their camps were located, unavoidably, in places where 
a dry spot could not be found. This caused great suffering and 
much sickness. The hardest service was performed by those 
who held the trenches. The proximity of the Federal army 
made it necessary that the whole line should be manned as fully 
as possible. The enemy's sharpshooters were in many in- 
stances so near that it was certain death for any one to show 
his head above the works. This rendered it impossible for the 
men in these places to stand erect, and, when not actually en- 
gaged in repelling an attack, they were forced to sit down in 
the trenches. During all this time they were literally, not 
figuratively, in mud and water up to their knees. They had 
scarcely any food, and what was furnished them had to be 
passed along the trenches from man to man, under a constant 
and heavy fire of shells and musketry. They had no stimu- 
lants, not even the execrable sassafras tea with which their 
comrades, farther in the rear, regaled themselves, in the ab- 
sence of other beverages. For twenty-nine days they endured 
these horrible sufferings, — sufferings which those who did not 
witness them can hardly appreciate, — and yet they never mur- 
mured. I, myself, saw them, covered with mud and almost 
famished, crawl away from the front when relieved, many of 
them so stiff from the effects of the cold and wet, and their 
cramped posture in the trenches, as to be unable to walk erect. 
Surely, no greater proof of their powers of endurance, or their 
heroic devotion to their cause was ever given by any army than 
by this. 

At an early day General Johnston had requested the Con- 
federate Government to withdraw Magruder's command from 
Yorktown to a less exposed point nearer the Capital, and when 



M LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

General Lee was assigned to duty at Eichmond he urged the 
same course. In the opinion of these officers any line beyond 
the head of the York was unsafe, as it was always in the power 
of the enemy to penetrate to its rear, cut it off from Richmond, 
and capture the troops. This might be done by marching 
across from the Bay to West Point, and seizing the roads lead- 
ing to the Capital, or by throwing a column up the York to 
West Point, or up the James to the rear of Williamsburg, 
which the naval superiority of the Federals made a possible un- 
dertaking. The Virginia was by no means so formidable as 
the enemy had come to believe, and it was not at all certain 
that she would be successful in a second encounter with her 
rival, the Monitor. Besides this, she was so unseaworthy as 
to be useless in moderately rough weather. The Government, 
however, declined to take the step urged upon it until the ar- 
rival of McClellan on the Peninsula opened its eyes to the dan- 
ger which threatened it. Then it was too late to act promptly. 
The evacuation of Yorktown involved also the abandonment 
of Norfolk, and it was necessary to hold the former until 
the latter could be dismantled. This is why it was required of 
Magruder to expose his little army to almost certain destruction 
or capture, and they owed their deliverance to their own valor 
and General McClellan's weakness, and not to the wisdom or 
foresight of President Davis. Had the advice of General 
Johnston been heeded at first, the losses and sacrifices which 
occurred between Yorktown and the Chickahominy would have 
been avoided. 

A personal inspection of the position satisfied General 
Johnston of the correctness of his views, and confirmed him in 
his determination to retire towards Richmond as soon as such a 
step could be taken. Magruder's line was very strong, but not 
impregnable, and it was within the power of McClellan at any 
moment to cut him off from Richmond. The roads up the 



THE SIEGE OP YOEKTOWN. 87 

Peninsula were in a bad condition, and the Confederate transpor- 
tation by both land and water was very limited, rendering it 
difficult to supply the army. Another advantage to be gained 
by falling back to Kichmond, was that McClellan would be 
drawn some distance inland, away from the support of his 
fleet, thus placing it in the power of the Confederates to assume 
the offensive should they see fit, which was utterly impossible 
anywhere below West Point. 

Thus it happened that while McClellan was busily employed 
in pushing forward his preparations for an assault, General 
Johnston was rapidly getting ready to leave the Peninsula. 
He sent off everything that could be carried away. It was not 
possible to remove the heavy guns from the works at Yorktown 
without rousing the suspicions of the enemy, but the field artil- 
lery was sent to Williamsburg on the night of the 1st of May, 
and its place supplied, as at Manassas and Centreville, with 
quaker guns. The retreat was to have been begun on the 
night of the 2nd, and the army broke up its camp at sunset on 
that day, but the movement was deferred until the next night. 

In order to lull McClellan's suspicions, a furious cannonade 
was opened upon his lines from every heavy gun on the works 
at Yorktown. At dusk, under the cover of this fire, the troops 
silently left the works they had held so successfully, and filed 
off swiftly along the two roads leading, the one from Yorktown 
and the other from Lee's Mill, to Fort Magruder, in front of 
Williamsburg, which was reached by three o'clock the next 
morning, the sky, red with the lurid flashes of the guns at 
Yorktown, telling them that the first stage of their withdrawal 
had been successfully accomplished. 



88 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 



VII. 

THE RETREAT UP THE PENINSULA. 

General McClellan had determined to open his batteries on 
the Confederate line on the morning of the 6th of May. He 
had prepared them with skill, and he was sure that the terrible 
fire which he would hurl upon the earthworks in his front 
would be more than human nature could endure. The Con- 
federates would be compelled to abandon their works, and flee 
up the Peninsula, pursued by his victorious legions. Then 
Richmond would crown his labors. 

These pleasant anticipations were cut short on Sunday morn- 
ing May 4th, by the announcement that the Confederates had 
abandoned their position during the night. All his skilful and 
costly preparations were now useless. The prize had eluded 
his grasp just as he believed himself about to clutch it. 

The Federal army immediately occupied the abandoned works 
of the Confederates, and McClellan threw forward the cavalry 
and four batteries of horse artillery in pursuit of General 
Johnston. Hooker's and Smith's divisions were also advanced 
towards Williamsburg, and were soon followed by Kearney's, 
Couch's and Casey's. Franklin's division was embarked on 
transports and pushed up the York River to West Point, with 
the hope of intercepting the Confederates. The direction of 
the pursuit towards Williamsburg was entrusted to General 
Sumner, while General McClellan remained at Yorktown to 
hasten the embarkation of Franklin's troops, as the movement 
of this latter body was of the first importance. 

General McClellan announced to his Government the retreat 
of the Confederates, in the following dispatch. 



THE KETREAT UP THE. PENINSULA. 89 

" Headquartebs op the Army of the Potomac, 
May i, 9 a. m. 

" To Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary op War : 

"We have the ramparts. Have guns, ammunition, camp 

equipage, &c. We hold the entire line of his works, which 

the engineers report as being very strong. I have thrown all 

my cavalry and horse artillery in pursuit, supported by in- 

fantiy. I move Franklin's division, and as much more as I 

can transport by water, up to West Point to-day. No time 

shall be lost. The gunboats have gone up York River. I 

omitted to state that Gloucester is also in our possession. I 

shall push the enemy to the wall. 

G. B. McClellan, Major- General.* 

The " capture " of Yorktown was made the most of by the 
Federals. They had, however, very little to boast of, as they 
had been held in check for two weeks by five thousand men, 
and forced to lay siege to the place. Then the evacuation had 
been conducted at General Johnston's leisure, and he had left 
them only his deserted works, and such things as it was impos- 
sible to remove. True they secured a large number of heavy 
guns, but that was all of importance, and but for the folly 
of the Southern Government in refusing to heed the advice 
of Johnston and Lee when first offered, these too might have 
been saved. They were, however, but a poor offset to the 
unmense labor and expense to which McClellan had been put 
in conducting the siege. Clearly the Union commander had 
nothing to be proud of. 

Upon reaching Williamsburg, General Johnston halted, in 
order to allow his trains to push on towards Richmond. The 
roads were in bad condition, and their progress was necessarily 

* For some reason best known to himself, General McClellan has failed to 
reproduce this bulletin in his report. 
12 



90 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

slow. After a brief halt, the main body of the army continued 
the retreat. The rear guard, consisting of Longstreet's divi- 
sion, held the works in front of Williamsburg during Sunday 
the 4th of May. 

About three o'clock in the afternoon, the column under Gen- 
eral Stoneman appeared in front of Fort Magruder, the centre 
of Longstreet's line. A sharp artillery fire was opened on it, 
and an indecisive skirmish occurred between the cavalry and 
artillery of the enemy and a part of Longstreet's force, lasting 
during the afternoon, and resulting in the former withdrawing 
into the woods. 

During the afternoon it became evident to General Johnston 
that a large body of infantry was being massed in his front, and 
Longstreet's division was disposed so as to cover all the ap- 
proaches to Williamsburg. 

The force which was collected before Williamsburg, was the 
command of General Sumner. By daylight on the morning 
of the 5th, the divisions of Smith and Hooker had joined the 
cavalry. Couch and Casey were delayed until one o'clock in 
the afternoon, by the roads. Hooker opened the battle at half 
past seven in the morning, by a sharp attack on Fort Magru- 
der. He was met with spii'it, and driven back, by 9 a. m., 
with the loss of five guns. Kearney's division now coming up 
checked the progress of the Confederates, and saved Hooker 
from a still greater punishment. During the day the enemy 
were repulsed at all points save on the extreme left. On that 
flank were a couple of redoubts which commanded the Southern 
left and centre. Owing to some unpardonable carelessness. 
General Johnston had not been informed of the existence of 
these works, and consequently they were unoccupied when 
Hancock approached them. He instantly took possession of 
them, and seeing his advantage, sent urgent requests for reen- 
forcements to enable him to take the Southern line in reverse, 



THE RETREAT UP THE PENINSULA. 91 

and cut the communication of the troops engaged with Hooker 
and Kearney. Had he been supported as he should have been, 
the battle would have resulted in a Federal victory. 

The first intimation General Johnston had of the existence 
of these important works, was the information that the Federals 
held them, and were threatening his rear. He at once de- 
spatched a force to drive the enemy out, but Hancock repulsed 
the attacks made upon him, and only relinquished his advantage 
when ordered by General Sumner to fall back to his original 
position. 

The battle ended at sunset. The enemy suffered a loss of 
four hundred and fifty-six killed, fourteen hundred wounded, 
and three hundred and seventy-two missing. Total, two thou- 
sand two hundred and twenty-eight ; and nine pieces of artil- 
lery. The Confederate total loss was eighteen hundred. Sev- 
eral guns and caissons, which could not be carried off for want 
of horses, were rendered worthless, and abandoned. 

General Johnston had fought at Williamsburg simply to hold 
McClellan in check until his trains could reach a place of safety. 
This he accomplished, as has been seen, with the rear guard 
only. There was now no further necessity for remaining at 
Fort Magruder, and during the night of the 5th the army fell 
back from Williamsburg, and took the route to the Chickahom- 
iny. The bad roads and the lack of transportation rendered it 
impossible to remove the wounded, and they were left in the 
town, where they fell into the hands of the Federals the next 
day. 

Franklin's division ascended the York to West Point, and 
effected a landing under the cover of their gunboats at El- 
tham's Landing. General Johnston, however, was not to be 
caught thus. He had provided against this movement on the 
part of McClellan by sending Whiting's division towards the 
mouth of the Pamunkey. On the 7th of May, Whiting en- 



92 LIFE OF GENERAL. LEE. 

countered Franklin near where he had landed, and after a 
stubborn fight drove him back to the river, and forced him to 
take refuge under the fire of his gunboats. Whiting's loss was 
about three hundred killed and wounded. He took one hun- 
dred and twenty-six prisoners. The enemy's loss in killed and 
wounded is unknown to me. 

The enemy claimed the victory in both fights — Williams- 
burg and Eltham's Landing ; but in each McClellan was un- 
successful. At Williamsburg his pursuit was brought to a 
summary end, and at Eltham's Landing his effort to get be- 
tween Johnston and Richmond was vigorously foiled. The 
result was, that, instead of " pushing the enemy to the wall," 
he was content to allow General Johnston to retire at his leis- 
ure, making no further effort to interfere with him.* 

The retreat up the Peninsula was conducted with great skiU, 
under many discouraging circumstances. The roads were in a 
horrible state, so bad, indeed, that it was almost impossible to 
force the wagons and artillery over them. The troops marched 
through mud almost to their knees, and were compelled to 
subsist on parched corn for the last few days of the movement. 
By the 10th the Chickahominy was reached. 

General Johnston withdrew his forces to the south bank of 
the stream, leaving only a small detachment at Mechanicsville, 
on the north side, four miles from Richmond. Another detach- 
ment was stationed at Hanover Court House. 

The evacuation of the Peninsula was followed by the aban 
donment of Norfolk, which took place on the ninth of May. 
On the next day the Federal forces from Fortress Monroe, 

* General McClellan states that Franklin repulsed all of Whiting's attacks, 
and that the latter retired from the field at 3 o'clock, p. m. The reader will 
remember that Franklin's movement was an aggressive one, and of the first 
importance to McClellan. Thus we have a confession that he was forced to 
assume the defensive and prevented from accomplishing his object. 



DARK DAYS. 98 

under Major General Wool, occupied It. General Huger's 
command was, towards the close of the month, united with 
General Johnston's main column. 



VIII. 
DARK DAYS. 

The loss of Norfolk left the iron-clad steamer Virginia in a 
helpless condition. She was too large to be carried up the 
James River within supporting distance of the Confederate 
forces, and her commander. Commodore Tatnall, believing it 
Impossible to save the vessel, abandoned and blew her up. 

Thus the James Elver was left unguarded to a point within 
a few miles of Richmond. Appreciating the necessity of 
prompt movements. Commander Rogers, of the Federal navy, 
ascended the stream with the Galena, the Monitor, the Aroos- 
took, the Port Royal, and the Naugatuck, the first two being 
iron-clads, for the purpose of ascertaining the positions of the 
Confederates along the river, and inflicting such damage upon 
them as lay in the power of the fleet. 

Nine miles below Richmond, on the south side of the James, 
is a bold blufi", afterwards famous as Drewry's Bluff. In May 
1862 it was crowned with an unfinished earthwork, mounting 
four guns. Below this work the river was partially obstructed 
by a row of sunken schooners, and spiles driven Into the bed 
of the stream. The post was In this condition when the ad- 
vance of the Federal fleet became known in Richmond. In- 
stantly every exertion was made to put the works at Drewry's 
Bluff in a better condition for defence, and to render the closing 
of the river more eflfectual, both of which objects were accom- 
plished, though but imperfectly. 



94 LITE OF GENEEAL LEE. 

The news of the approach of the Federal gunboats produced 
the jrreatest consternation at Richmond. The Confederate 
Congress adjourned and departed in the midst of the excite- 
ment. The Government rapidly prepared to abandon the city, 
and did little or nothing to encourage the people. The most 
distressing and exaggerated rumors were freely circulated, and 
the place was gloomy enough. The halls of the " War De- 
partment " were piled up with large boxes marked ' ' War 
Dep't., Columbia, S. C," and through its open windows, the 
Adjutant-General's office could be seen stripped of its usual 
contents. Similar sights were to be witnessed at all the public 
offices. The citizens hurried away by every conveyance, and 
to a mere observer it seemed that there was no hope of saving 
the Capital. 

In the midst of all this dismay the Legislature of Virginia 
remained in session, unterrified by the bugbear that had driven 
the Congress away. On the 14th of May the following resolu- 
tions were adopted by both Houses of the Legislature : — 

" Resolved, By the General Assembly of Virginia, that the 
General Assembly hereby express its desire that the Capital of 
the State be defended to the last extremity, if such defence is 
in accordance with the views of the President of the Confed- 
erate States, and that the President be assured that whatever 
destruction and loss of property of the State or individuals 
shall thereby result, will be cheerfully submitted to. 

' ' Resolved, That a Committee of two on the part of the 
Senate and three on the part of the House, be appointed to 
communicate the adoption of the foregoing resolution to the 
President." 

The resolutions were immediately communicated to President 
Davis, who assured the Committee of his intention to hold the 
city, though there can be no doubt that he had formed this res- 
olution at the last moment. A meeting of the citizens was 



DARK DAYS. 95 

held, which endorsed the course of the Legislature. Confi- 
dence was restored, and the issue of the contest awaited with 
calmness, though not without anxiety. 

On the morning of the 15th of May, the gunboats opened 
fire on the batteries at Drewry's Bluff, which they had discovered 
the evening before. The Galena w\as in the advance. When 
the vessels had approached within four hundred yards of the 
obstructions, the batteries opened upon them. They did not 
reply until the Galena had placed herself directly athwart the 
channel, when they returned a brisk fire. The engagement 
continued with spirit until five minutes past eleven, when the 
steamers withdrew out of range, and dropped down the 
stream. The Confederate sharpshooters along the shore did 
good service, by picking oflf every man who exposed himself to 
them. 

The fire of the Southern guns was directed principally at the 
Galena, the flag-ship. She was badly cut up, being struck 
repeatedly. Commander Rogers, in his dispatch of May 16th, 
reports a loss of thirteen killed and eleven wounded. A large 
one hundred-pound Parrott gun, on the Naugatuck, burst 
during the action, disabling the vessel. 

Lieutenant D. C. Constable, commanding the gunboat Ste- 
vens, speaks as follows of this engagement, in a letter addressed 
to his mother : — 

" The iron-clad Galena was hit forty-six times, twenty-eight 
shot and shell having completely penetrated her armor, killing 
fourteen and wounding about twenty of her crew. * * * * 
Strange to say, four out of five of the commanders of the ves- 
sels engaged were more or less injured." 

The Southern loss was seven killed and eii^ht wounded. 
General Lee and President Davis were present during the 
action. 

The result of the encounter with the gunboats was encourag- 



9Q LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

ing. Previous to this they had been believed to be invincible. 
Their repulse on this occasion did much towards destroying this 
feeling, and inspiring the country with confidence. 

The few days immediately following the arrival of the South- 
ern army within the lines of Richmond were intensely dark. 
The Government was more than half inclined to abandon the 
city, and there were even rumors that the army was to be with- 
drawn behind the James. The people were disheartened, and 
were leaving the city daily. The army was very weak, and 
still suffering from the effects of its severe service on the Penin- 
sula and the retreat. The Federal forces were within a few 
miles of the Capital, and it was possible that they might over- 
whelm General Jolmston's command, now only forty-seven 
thousand strong. These fears were not relieved by the occur- 
rences which immediately followed McClellan's arrival on the 
Chickahominy . 

On the 20th of May the advance of the Federal army reached 
the Chickahominy River, at Bottom's Bridge. This, as well as 
the railroad bridge, had been destroyed by the Confederates. 
The left wing, consisting of Casey's division and Heintzelman's 
corps, was at once thrown across the stream, and ordered to 
intrench itself on the high ground beyond the swamp, and the 
bridge was rebuilt. At the same time, the right and centre 
were advanced to the river. On the 24th of May the Confed- 
erates were driven out of Mechanics ville, and forced across the 
swamp. The Federal right wing was then established there, 
the centre resting on the river at New Bridge, near the York 
River Railroad crossing. 

Having thus secured his position on the Chickahominy, 
McClellan proceeded to extend his right towards the Upper 
Pamunkey, for the purpose of uniting with McDowell's corps, 
which, as we shall see farther on, had been promised him. 
Hanover Court House was the point at which he desired to 



SEVEN PINES. 97 

effect this junction. It was but two marches from Fi'edericks- 
burg from which McDowell was to begin his advance, and but 
one march from the Federal position on the Chickahominy. It 
was held by a brigade of Southern troops, too weak to make a 
successful stand against a decided attack. On the 27th of 
May, Porter's corps attacked the Confederates, and, after a 
sharp fight, drove them back towards Richmond. 

The Federal line now extended across the Virginia Central 
Railroad, which v/as partially destroyed, and after the fight at 
Hanover Court House, the Fredericksburg road was also cut. 



IX. 

SEVEN PINES. 

Meanwhile the work of bridging the Chickahominy was car- 
ried on with energy by the Federals. Heavy rain-storms, 
however, swelled the stream to such an extent that some of the 
dridges were swept away, while others Avere rendered insecure. 

Greneral McClellan now determined to advance his left wing 
nearer to Richmond. Accordingly, on the 25th of May, Gen- 
eral Keyes, who had been placed in command of the left, was 
ordered to "advance on the Williamsburg road, and take up 
and fortify the nearest strong position to a fork of roads called 
the Seven Pines." The order was obeyed promptly, and Gen- 
eral Keyes occupied the country between the Seven Pines and 
Fair Oaks Station on the York River Railroad, in force, ex- 
tending his pickets to the Chickahominy. 

This was the Federal position on the 31st of May. Before 
the 30th of May, General Johnston was informed of the pres- 
ence of Keyes' column on the south side of the swamp, and 
on that day General D. H. Hill reported the enemy in strong 
13 



iJ8 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

force immediately in his front. General Johnston at once 
determined to attack them the next morning, hoping to defeat 
Keyes before he could receive reenforcements. Generals D. H. 
Hill, Huger, and G. W. Smith were ordered to bring their 
forces into position at once, and General Longstreet, being near 
headquarters, received verbal instructions, and was assigned the 
direction of operations on the right. 

General Hill, supported by Longstreet's division, was to ad- 
vance by the Williamsburg road, and attack the enemy in front. 
General Huger, with his division, was to move by the Charles 
City road, and fall upon the flank of any troops which might 
be engao-ed with Longstreet and Hill, unless he found in his 
front a force sufficient to prevent him from doing so. General 
Smith was to march to the junction of the Nine Mile and the 
New Bridge Roads, to be in readiness either to fall on Keyes' 
right flank, or to cover Longstreet's left. These columns were 
to move at daybreak, and It was expected to begin the action 
about eight o'clock on the morning of the Slst of May. 

The Chickahomlny river, which separated the two wings of 
the Federal army, is ordinarily a narrow stream, which may be 
easily bridged, and at the last of May two bridges were In use, 
by which communication was maintained between the Federal 
force north of the Chickahomlny, and that south of the stream. 

During the night of the 30th, a heavy rain storm swelled 
the river to such proportions that It was believed that General 
IVlcClellan would not be able to send any troops across to the 
assistance of General Keyes. The rains also rendered the soft, 
boggy soil almost unfit for military operations, thus adding 
greatly to the personal discomfort of both armies, during the 
night, and to the difficulty of manoeuvring the next day. 

Generals Longstreet, Hill, and Smith were in position on 
the morning of May 31st, in time to commence operations by 
eight o'clock. General Huger passed through Richmond on 



SEVEN PINES. 99 

Friday afternoon, and was expected to reach his position in 
time to cooperate with the other columns. Hour after hour 
passed away, however, but he did not make his appearance. 
Unwilling to make a partial attack instead of the combined 
movement that had been agreed upon. General Longstreet 
waited Impatiently for General Huger, though conscious that 
he was losing time, which was of the first importance. He 
waited for him until two o'clock in the afternoon ; then, find- 
ing it useless to delay longer, threw forward his column and 
opened the battle with his artillery and skirmishers. 

The first hostile force encountered by General Longstreet, 
was the division of Major-General Casey, which was strongly 
entrenched on the Seven Pines' farm on the Williamsburg road. 
D. H. Hill's division was in the advance, and drove the enemy 
rapidly before it. 

Brigadier-General I. B. Richardson, commanding a Federal 
division engaged, thus speaks of this first attack : — 

' ' The enemy commenced a furious assault upon the most 
salient point of our whole line, namely, the redoubt and in- 
trenched camp of Casey's division. It was, perhaps, the most 
perfect surprise which ever happened on the continent, and the 
column moving forward without warning, brushed away the di- 
vision of Casey like chaff, without waiting even to throw out 
skirmishers in front and on the flanks of the column. I don't 
care to know anything of this most disgraceful route. SuflSce 
it to say that they not only ran then, but have not since been 
heard from ; but have abandoned their whole camp, wagons, 
teams, and seven pieces of artillery."* 

Longstreet now had possession of Casey's camp and first line 
of defence. Without pausing, he pushed on steadily. The 
enemy, after their first surprise, brought up fresh troops, and 

* This extract is from a letter written by General Richardson on the 4th of 
June, 1862. See Eebellion Record, Vol. 5., p. 87. 



100 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

not only endeavored to prevent the advance of the Southerners, 
but attempted, with energy, to retake the position they had 
lost. " At each new position," says General Johnston, " the 
Confederates encountered fresh troops belonging to it, and re- 
enforcements brought on from the rear. * * But their advance 
was never successfully resisted." 

The battle was hotly contested, the Federals disputing the 
ground inch by inch. A member of a New York battery thus 
describes the nature of the fighting : — 

" Our shot tore their ranks wide open, and shattered them 
asunder in a manner that was frightful to witness ; but they 
closed up at once, and came on as steadily as English veterans. 
When they got within four hundred yards, we closed our case 
shot and opened on them with canister, and such destruction I 
never elsewhere witnessed. At each discharge great gaps were 
made in their ranks ; indeed whole companies went down be- 
fore that murderous fire ; but they closed up with an order and 
discipline that was awe-inspiring. * * * It was awful to see 
their ranks, torn and shattered by every discharge of canister 
that we poured right into their faces ; and while their dead and 
dying lay in piles, closed up, and still kept advancing right in 
the face of the fire. At one time three lines, one behind the 
other, were steadily advancing, and three of their flags were 
brought in range of one of our guns shotted with canister. 
' Fire ! ' shouted the gunner, and down went those three flag.s, 
and a gap was opened through those three lines as if a thunder-^ 
bolt had torn through them, and their dead lay in swaths. But 
they at once closed up and came steadily on, never halting or 
wavering, right through the woods, over the fence, through the 
fields, right up to our guns, and sweeping everything before 
them, captured every piece. * * * Our whole division was 
cut to pieces, with what loss I do not know." 

Night alone checked the victorious advance of Longstreet and 



SEVEN riNES. 101 

Hill. By nightfall they had driven the enemy back to the 
" Seven Pines," a distance of more than two miles, " throuo^h 
their own camps, and from a series of intrenchments, and re- 
pelled every attempt to recapture them with great slaughter."* 
The troops slept in the captured encampments, and made their 
supper on the provisions taken from the enemy, who remained, 
durino; the night within musket ranofe. 

In the meantime, General Johnston, who had stationed him- 
self with General Smith's division, had waited impatiently for 
the sound of Longstreet's cannon on the right. Ovvino- to some 
peculiar condition of the atmosphere, he did not hear the firin"-, 
and at last sent an aid to learn the condition of affairs in that 
direction. At four o'clock the officer returned, and reported 
that Longstreet and Hill were pressing on with vigor. Gen- 
eral Smith was at once ordered forward. 

Whiting's three brigades were in the advance, while Hood's 
brigade, by order of General Johnston, moved towards the 
right to cooperate with Longstreet. Smith made a spirited 
attack on the Federal position in his front, and succeeding in 
forcing their line back to Fair Oaks Station on .the York River 
Railroad. Here he encountered a new obstacle. 

As soon as the news of the attack on Casey's division reached 
him, General Sumner put his corps in readiness to cross the 
Chickahominy to the assistance of General Keyes. Appreci- 
ating the value of promptness, he, with an energy which was 
characteristic of him, set his column in motion, and only halted 
when his command reached the bridges. By this movement he 
saved an hour or two, and was able to cross his corps, upon 
the receipt of General McClellan's order, in time to resist the 
attack of General Smith upon Fair Oaks Station. 

Finding the resistance at this point more formidable than he 
had expected, General Johnston hurried to General Smith all 

* General Johnston's Report. 



102 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

the reenforcements at hand, consisting of two brigades. The 
attack was made with great vigor, and met with a stulborn 
resolution. When the firing ceased shortly after dark, the 
Federals still held their position on the railroad. Their left 
wino- had been defeated with great slaughter, but their right 
was still unbroken. 

Towards sunset General Johnston was severely wounded, 
and the command of the army passed to Major-General G. W. 
Smith. 

Smith's troops bivouacked for the night within musket shot 
of the Federal lines. General McClellan hurried fresh regi- 
ments over the river, so that by daybreak the next morning his 
army south of the stream was strong enough to be no longer 
exposed to the danger which had threatened it. 

Sunday morning, June 1st, found the two armies still in 
front of each other. At daylight General Smith saw that the 
enemy's position in his immediate front was defended by formi- 
dable earth-works which he had not noticed on the previous 
evening. He deemed it best, in consideration of this fact, not 
to renew the attack, but to hold his ground, and await the 
movements of the enemy. 

The Federal forces which General Lonsfstreet had driven 
back were also reenforced during the night of the 31st. Long- 
street was reenforced late on Saturday evening by General 
Huger's division. At early dawn on the morning of June 1st 
tlie enemy made a heavy attack upon a portion of Longstreet's 
line held by General Pickett's brigade, which was supported by 
Pryor's brigade. These commands gallantly held their ground 
until half-past ten o'clock, when the firing ceased. During the 
remainder of the day the enemy shelled the Confederate posi- 
tion, their batteries north of the river keeping up a steady fire 
upon the Southern left at Garnett's and Mrs. Price's farms. 
The Confederates passed the day in securing and bearing off" 



SEVEN PINES. 103 

the captured artillery, small arms, and other propeity, and at 
sunset quietly resumed the positions they had occupied previous 
to the battle. 

The Confederates lost four thousand two hundred and thirty- 
six men, killed, wounded and missing. They captured ten 
pieces of artillery, six thousand muskets, one garrison flag, four 
regimental colors, and a quantity of tents and camp equipage. 
General McClellan reported his total loss in killed, wounded, 
and missing, at five thousand seven hundred and thirty-nine. 

The battle of Seven Pines is claimed as a victory by both 
sides. A careful review of the struggle, must, we think, con- 
vince the unprejudiced reader that the advantage remained with 
the Confederates. Had General Johnston's plan been carried 
out as he had reason to expect, it would have resulted in the 
total destruction or capture of Keyes' command before aid could 
have been received by that general. But the unpardonable 
delay of General Huger, who could have crossed Stony Run, 
in spite of its overflow, had he been possessed of a little more 
energy, was the greatest disadvantage under which the South- 
em commander labored. Still, though the attack was made 
nearly seven hours later than was expected, it resulted in the 
complete defeat of the Federal left wing, and Smith's attack on 
Fair Oaks was so spirited as to induce the Federal commander 
at that point to remain quiet during Sunday, when, having been 
reenforced, he might have inflicted considerable damage upon 
the Confederates. Besides this. General Johnston struck the 
blow with the intention of checking McClellan's advance on the 
south side of the swamp. Although he failed to destroy Keyes' 
corps, he crippled McClellan so greatly, and impressed him so 
deeply with a sense of his power and determination, that the 
plans of" the Young Napoleon" were brought to a complete 
" stand-still," for that oflficer at once abandoned his idea of 



104 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

capturing Hichinond by a coitp de main, and commenced to lay 
siege to the Southern position in front of the city. In view of 
all this, it must be admitted that, although the firmness of the 
Federal right to a great degree counterbalanced their defeat on 
the left, and rendered the engagement in a tactical sense a 
drawn battle, the* real advantages lay with the Confederates. 

It is not true, as has been claimed by many Federal officers 
and writers, that had General jMcClellan advanced his whole 
force on Sunday morning he would have followed a retreating 
enemy into Richmond. So far from retreating, all the troops 
in the defences of the city were advanced to the Chickahominy 
early on Sunday morning. 

There was, however, an advantage which he might have 
obtained had he been bold enough to attempt it. Had he 
moved a column of twenty-five thousand men upon Garnett's 
and Mrs. Price's farms at daylight on Sunday morning, he 
could have captured them, as they were held by a mere handful 
of men without intrenchments. The heights upon which these 
farms are situated command the New Bridge, which was made 
passable for troops and artillery by a little after eight o'clock in 
the morning. This bridge would have enabled him to reenforce 
his left wing to any extent with great rapidity, and would have 
brought him directly upon the Southern left flank and rear, 
thus compelling the Confederates to fall back nearer to Rich- 
mond. Then by throwing forward his whole army with vigor, 
he mi2:ht either have entered Richmond with the Southerners, 
or have secured a position from which his guns could have com- 
manded the city. It was a tempting opportunity, and the fall 
of General Johnston had somewhat confused affairs in the Con- 
federate army. The old Napoleon would have clutched the 
occasion and profited by it. "The Young Napoleon" hesitated, 
and lost everything. In the succeeding pages the reader will 



SEVEN PINES. 105 

see how he was forced to change his offensive campaign into an 
unsuccessful defensive. * 

* General Johnston furnished the following note to the authors of "Har- 
per's Pictorial History of the Great Kebellion." 

" jANUAKr, 3, 1866. 

"In September 18G1 the effective strength of the array under my command 
in Ndi thorn Virginia was about tliirty-seven thousand. It occupied Centre- 
villc, Manassas, and the Lower Occoquan. 

"On the 31st of December it had been increased, by improved health and 
the addition of Loring's and Holmes' troops, to fifty-four tliousand, including 
Jackson's command. Jackson's eight thousand were near Romney and Win- 
chester. There were twenty-six Imndred at Leesburg, thirty-one thousand, 
eight liundred at Centreville and Manassas ; seven thousand on the Lower 
Occoquan and near Dumfries ; and five thousand about Fredericksburg. This 
army was much reduced during the winter by the efiect of what we called the 
' Bounty and Furlough Law,' but received some recruits from the South in 
the early spring. "Wlien, in April, it moved to Williamsburg, its strength 
(effective) was about fifty tliousand ; of which six thousand wore left with 
Jackson in the Valley, and six thousand with Ewell on the Eappahannock. 

" The remaining thirty-eight thousand were sent to tlie Peninsula in two 
bodies. I accompanied the second, which arrived on the 17th of April' 
Magruder's own force was about fifteen thousand, making our array at York- 
town nearly fifty-three thousand, exclusive of cavalry.* Sickness and the 
fight at Williamsburg reduced this number by six thousand. Our loss at 
Williamsburg was about eighteen hundred. 

" According to the above numbers, the strength of this army when it 
reached the neighborhood of Richmond was about forty-seven thousand. To 
this were added, near the end of May, Anderson's and Branch's troops, about 
thirteen thousand, and three brigades of Huger's division, not quite seven 
thousand. If the effect of sickness is not considered, this would make the 
army amount to sixty-seven thousand at the time of the fights at Fair Oaks 
and Seven Pines. On that occasion four brigades of G. W. Smith's division 
wore engaged at Fair Oaks ; and at Seven Pines, D. H. Hill's four, and two 
of Longstreet's were engaged on the 31st of May. On the morning of June 
1st, there were nine Confederate brigades at Fair Oaks, five of which were 
fresh, and thirteen at Seven Pines, seven of which were fresh, that is to 
say, which had not been engaged the day before." 

* General Johnston no doubt bases his estimate of Magruder's force upon 
returns made early in March. As I have previously stated, three thousand 
five hundred men were taken from Magruder and sent to General Randolph 

U 



106 LITE OF GENERAL LEE. 

X. 

A CHANGE OF COMMANDERS 

As I have stated, the command of the army passed to Major- 
General G. W. Smith when General Johnston was wounded. 
General Smith's rank, however, did not entitle him to so large 
a command, and, in view of the critical condition of affairs. 
President Davis resolved to place General Lee at the head of 
the Army of Northern Virginia, and accordingly, though he 
retained his position as Commanding General, he was ordered 
to enter upon his new duties at once, which he did on the 3d 
of June 1862. 

His first care was to put the army in a condition for an 
effective campaign. While on duty at Richmond, he had 
exerted himself to bring to General Johnston's aid all the troops 
at his disposal. He continued these exertions in his new com- 
mand, and the conscription having now begun to yield its 
fruits, he was able to bring the strength of the Army of North- 
ern Virginia, by the 20th of June, to over seventy thousand 
men. 

During 1862, the city of Richmond had for its military 
commander, Brigadier-General John H. Winder, a man noto- 
riously unfit for his position, and whose outrages upon the 
citizens soon made him odious to the community. General 
Winder organized a Provost Marshal's department in the city, 
and supplied it with a strong detective police force. This nar- 

at Suffolk, only a few weeks before McClellan advanced upon Yorktown. 
This left Magruder the force (eleven thousand five hundred) which he men- 
tions in his report, and placed the strength of the Confederate army on the 
Peninsula under General Johnston, at forty-nine thousand five hundred 
exclusive of cavalry, and of the reenforcements from Norfolk. 



A CHANGE OF COMMANDEltS. 107 

rative has to deal with only one part of their operations. I am 
glad to be spared the revolting task of relating all their deeds. 
A passport system was established in the city, under the super- 
vision of the Provost Marshal and his police. It was designed 
that this system should prevent the departure of improper per- 
sons from Richmond, but, owing to the shameful corruption of 
those in charge of it, it proved a failure. Passports could 
always be bought, and the spies and secret agents of the enemy 
were at all times thus enabled to pass at will between Eichraond 
and the Federal lines. So thoroughly was this the case that 
about the middle of May, General Johnston informed the 
President that the enemy seemed to know not only what was 
going on in his lines, but absolutely what he intended doing in 
the future, as if the most secret counsels of the Cabinet were 
divulged. With the hope of checking the evil, General Lee 
called the attention of the Provost Marshal to the dangerous 
results of the too free issue of passports. This, however, had 
no eiFect, and, after assuming the command of the army. Gen- 
eral Lee ordered that no one with Winder's permits should be 
allowed to pass the pickets of his forces. All permits for such 
a purpose were to be issued at his headquarters. This checked 
the evil as far as the army was concerned, but the Government 
was never free from it. 

The appointment of General Lee to his new position was by 
no means a popular measure. The failure of the Western Vir- 
ginia campaign had placed him under a cloud with the people, 
and the troops, who were devotedly attached to General John- 
ston, were not willing that they should be permanently deprived 
of their old commander. All classes were ignorant of the 
character of the man in whose hands the fate of the Confed- 
eracy was placed. That it was a wise choice on the part of the 
Government, the reader will soon perceive. Looking back 
now, however, it is hard to realize that any one should ever 



108 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

have objected to General Lee. It was not long before the 
feeling of sufferance with which the army received him, gave 
place to the most imbounded admiration for him. After the 
month of June, the troops would have mutinied, had he been 
taken from them.* 

It was General Johnston's intention not to allow McClellan 
to lay siege to Richmond. When he fell back from Yorktown, 
he determined to attack the Federal army at the earliest favor- 
able opportunity. In pursuance of this resolution, he struck at 
Keyes' column at Seven Pines, and had he not been disabled, 
there would have pursued a course similar to that adopted by 
his successor. General Lee was also fully impressed with the 
danger of allowing McClellan to approach the city at his 
leisure, under the cover of the strong works by which he was 
protecting his advance. Therefore, the first days succeeding 
General Lee's presence on the Chickahominy were spent in 
examining the position of the two armies, and arranging a def- 
inite plan of campaign. 

Meanwhile, General McClellan was steadily preparing for 
the grand movement which was to place the ' ' stars and stripes " 
above the Southern Capital. When he found that McDowell 
would not be sent to him at Yorktown, he waited until he had 
secured his position on the Chickahominy, and then renewed 
his appeals for fresh troops. Finally his Government consented 
to grant his request ; but, in order to cover Washington at the 
same time, decided that McDowell should march overland from 
Fredericksburg, which he then held, and unite his left wing 
with McClellan's right, at some point on the Upper Pamunkey. 
On the 18th of May, General McClellan was informed that 
McDowell would march at once, with between thirty-five and 
forty thousand men. Immediately the right wing of the Army 

* These views are derived from my conversations with the troops at the 
time. 



A CHANGE OF COMMANDEKS. 109 

of the Potomac Avas extended up the Pamunkey to Hanover 
Court House, which, as I have stated, was captured on the 
27th of May. By dispersing the Southern force at this point, 
McClellan opened the way for a successful junction between 
McDowell and himself. The danger which now threatened 
Richmond was great indeed. The Federal force on the Chick- 
ahominy was over one hundred and twenty thousand strong, 
and the arrival of a fresh column of forty thousand men on the 
north of the city, would have rendered jNIcClellan's chances of 
success almost certain. The Federal commander, appreciating 
this, waited impatiently for the sound of McDowell's cannon. 
The advance guard of this column had already begun the 
march, and in all probability the junction would be effected 
by the 20th of May. 

The movement was never completed. All this while Gen- 
eraljackson, who, as the reader will remember, had been left in 
the Valley of Virginia, when General Johnston retired behind 
the Rapidan, had been moving upon Banks' army. The part 
assigned to Jackson was one which required the exercise of the 
greatest skill and determination. He was to neutralize the 
forces of Fremont, Banks, and McDowell, and prevent them 
from rendering any assistance to McClellan. This task was 
faithfully performed. Jackson's army fell back from Winches- 
ter on the 11th of March, and retired as far as Mount Jackson, 
and then rapidly retracing its steps, fought the battle of Kerns- 
town. Although repulsed in this engagement. General Jack- 
son succeeded in retaining in the Valley, Banks' Corps, which 
had been designed for the occupation of Manassas. This led 
the Federal Government to decide upon retaining McDowell at 
Manassas, in order to protect Washington against any sudden 
dash of the Confederates. Thus McClellan was deprived of 
the assistance of the 1st Corps of his army on the Peninsula. 
After Jackson's withdrawal up the Valley, a season of com- 



110 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

parative quietude ensued in that region, and it was even believed 
that his troops had been sent to Eichmond. This supposition, 
and the belief that Fremont, who was slowly advancing tow- 
ards Staunton, would be able to manage any Southern force 
left in the Valley, induced the Federal authorities to allow Mc- 
Dowell to move from Manassas to the assistance of McClellan. 
They were, after all, not very secure in their own minds, and 
showed their sense of this by requiring General McDowell 
to conduct his movement so as not to *' uncover Washington" 
at any time before or after his junction with McClellan — a 
ridiculous order, which was utterly inconsistent with the move- 
ment. All this while, however, they continued to watch the 
Valley with anxiety, and with reason as the sequel proved. 

General Jackson had not abandoned the Valley. On the 
contrary he had been reenforced by E well's division, and was 
resting in the neighborhood of Swift Run Gap. On the 7th of 
May he crossed the mountains, and on the 8th fell upon Fre- 
mont's advance at the village of McDowell, and drove it back 
into Western Virginia. Then, bearing eastward, he suddenly 
returned to the Valley, attacked Banks, routed and drove him 
across the Potomac, dealing his first blow at Front Royal on the 
23rd of May, the very day previous to the time McDowell had 
promised McClellan to begin his march from the Rappahan- 
nock. 

The Federal authorities, finding their fears concerning Jack- 
son thus realized, became seriously alarmed. They believed 
the great flanker's object to be nothing less than the capture of 
Washington City, and it was resolved to abandon McDowell's 
movement upon Richmond in order to secure the safety of the 
Capital. On the 24th of May, President Lincoln wrote as fol- 
lows to General McDowell : 

" General Fremont has been ordered by telegraph to move 
from Franklin on Harrisonburgh, to relieve General Banks, 



A CHANGE OF C03OIANDEKS. Ill 

and capture or destroy Jackson's or E well's forces. You are 
instructed, laying aside for the present the movement on Rich- 
mond, to put twenty thousand men in motion at once for the 
Shenandoah, moving on the line or in advance of the Manassas 
Gap Railroad." 

On the same day General McDowell wrote to the Secretary 
of War : 

" The President's order has been received, — is in process of 
execution. This is a crushing blow to lis." 

So successful had been the movements of Jackson that Mc- 
Clellan was thunderstruck when informed, on the same day on 
which the above letters were written, that his plan had failed, 
and that McDowell would not join him. There now remained 
for him nothing but to push forward with his own army. 

The position of the Federal army was as follows : The left 
was established south of the Chickahominy, between White Oak 
Swamp and New Bridge, and was defended by a series of pow- 
erful works, the approaches to which were obstructed by felling 
the heavy woods in front, and commanded by numerous bat- 
teries. The centre was on the river near the New Bridge, while 
the right extended to Meadow Bridge, beyond Mechanics ville, 
(the force at Hanover Court House having been called in) and 
was strongly intrenched in a country admirably adapted to de- 
fensive operations. This line was fifteen miles in length, and 
almost a crescent in form. By means of the York River Rail- 
road, which ran directly from the White House, on the Pa- 
munkey River, to the centre of their camp, easy communication 
could be maintained with all parts of the North, the Pamunkey 
being navigable for the largest steamers. Thus the Federal 
army was supplied with everything necessary to its success, with 
but little labor. 

The Chickahominy intersected the position at right angles. 
It is a "narrow, sluggish stream, which, rising northwest of 



112 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Richmond, runs in a southeastern direction, and, holding its 
course down the Peninsula, heads to the south and empties into 
James River, some distance above Williamsburg. Its banks 
are swampy and overgrown with forest trees and heavy under- 
wood, rendering the ground almost impassable. Through these 
tangled swamps, narrow and winding roads of oozy turf, or 
dark and miry clay, afford a difficult and uncertain means of 
transit from point to point. These mysterious depths are still 
tenanted by the fallow deer, and from the shadowy recesses, 
dim with trailing vines, comes the sorrowful and plaintive cry 
of the whip-poor-will. * * * Taking Richmond as a central 
point, the course of the Chickaiiorainy described something like 
the arc of a circle around it to the north and east. At Meadow 
Bridge, where the outposts of the enemy's right wing were es- 
tablished, the stream is but six miles distant from the Capital ; 
at New Bridge, on the Nine Mile road, which led to General 
McClellan's centre, the distance is nine miles. The avenues of 
approach from the Chickahominy, the arc, to Richmoild, the 
centre, of the circle, were — commencing on the North, and 
travelling down the stream — the Fredericksburg Railroad, 
the Brook turnpike, the Meadow Bridge road, the Central 
Railroad, crossing at Meadow Bridge, the Mechanics ville turn- 
pike, the Nine Mile or New Bridge road, the York River Rail- 
road, the Williamsburg road, the Charles City road, and the 
Darbytown road."* 

The Confederate army was in front of Richmond, extending 
from the neighborhood of James River on the right, near Cha- 
fin's Bluff, to the Chickahominy beyond the Meadow Bridge, 
on the left. Huger's division held the right, Magruder was in 
the centre, and A. P. Hill held the left. Longstreet and D. 
H. Hill supported the right and centre. The army was in ex- 
cellent condition, and numbered ninety thousand men, includ- 

* Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson. 



THE RIDE AROUND MC'CLELLAN. 113 

ing the cavahy and Jackson's coraniancL The Federal army, 
at this time, was one hundred and fifteen thousand one hundred 
and two, strong. 

General Lee was not slow in forming his plan of operations, 
but in order to learn more accurately the position and pi*obable 
strength of his opponent, ordered General Stuart to make a re- 
connoissance of the Federal lines. 



XI. 

THE RIDE AROUND McCLELLAN. 

In compliance with General Lee's order, General Stuart col- 
lected a force of one thousand two hundred cavalry, consisting 
of the 1st, 4th, and 9th Virginia regiments, under Colonel Fitz 
Lee, and Colonel W. H. Fitzhugh Lee, two squadrons of the 
Jeff Davis Legion, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel W. T. 
Martin, and two guns from the Stuart horse ai'tillery, under 
Lieutenant Breathed. These troops left Richmond on the 12th 
of June, and rendezvoused at Kilby's Station on the Fredericks- 
burg Railroad. Several miles from the city a number of ne- 
groes were encountered, making their way to the Federal lines. 
These were promptly arrested and sent back to Richmond, and 
the column, keeping close to the railroad, pushed on northward, 
and encamped for the night near Hanover Court House, and 
not far from the South Anna bridge. General Stuart had pur- 
posely directed his first day's march toward Louisa county, in 
order that if the enemy heard of it, they might think he was 
marching to reenforce Jackson. This brought him twenty-two 
miles from Richmond, and placed him in a position from which 
lie could move directly upon the Federal rear. During the 
night signal rockets were thrown up to apprise the army of his 
15 



114 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

progress, and were answered from Riclimond. Scouts were 
kept out on all sides, and every precaution taken to guard 
against a surprise. 

Bj daylight on Friday morning, the 13th of June, the camp 
was astir, and silently and rapidly the men dispatched their 
hasty meal, and were in the saddle. The march was resumed, 
the men still being in profound ignorance of their destination. 
General Stuart, now that he was fairly within the enemy's lines, 
informed his officers of the objects of the expedition, that they 
might the more intelligently cooperate with him in the execution 
of his orders. The scouts came in as the march began, and 
reported the road clear to the Old Church. This point is al- 
most equidistant from the New Bridge and Pamunkey River, 
on the road leading direct to McClellan's centre, and upon it 
the column now moved rapidly. 

Arriving at Hanover Court House the place was found to be 
in possession of one hundred and fifty men of the 5 th Regular 
cavalry. General Stuart at once ordered Colonel Fitz Lee to 
take a squadron and gain their rear, but the enemy, taking 
alarm, i-etired towards Mechanicsville before Colonel Lee could 
come up with them. Their commander gallantly endeavored 
to induce them to make a stand, and sealed his devotion to his 
cause with his life, while his men fled at a hard gallop. No 
attempt was made to pursue them, as Stuart's route was by a 
different road. 

From the Court House the cavalry pushed on by Taliaferro's 
Mill, Eden Oiurch, and Hawes' shop. At the last named 
place the pickets were surprised, and several videttes captured. 
A company of cavalry was discovered drawn up across the 
road, evidently awaiting an attack. Lieut. Rodins dashed at 
it with a squadron of the 9th Virginia regiment, and put it to 
flight, inflicting a loss of several men upon it. 

Beyond Hawes' shop a regiment of cavalry was seen. This 



THE RIDE AROUND MC'CLELLAN. 115 

was the 5th, (formerly the 2nd) General Lee's old regiment. 
It did not attempt any resistance, but fell back rapidly, closely 
followed by Stuart's men. The chase continued for a mile or 
two, the enemy keeping well in advance, until Tottapotamoi 
Creek was crossed, and the vicinity of Old Church reached. 
Here the enemy, having been reenforced, halted and prepared 
to dispute the further progress of the Confederates. 

There was but one method of attacking them — in column of 
fours along the road — and General Stuart at once threw for- 
ward his men. He preferred to make the attack with one 
squadron at a time, as this would always leave him the means 
of throwing in fresh troops at the critical moment. 

A squadron under Captain Latane charged the enemy's col- 
umn with spirit. A sharp hand-to-hand fight ensued, resulting 
in the Federals being put to flight, with a loss of several killed 
and wounded. Several officers and privates were taken prison- 
ers, and a number of horses, arms, equipments, and five guid- 
ons captured. Captain Latane singled out the Federal com- 
mander, and dashing at him cut off his hat close to his face 
with a blow of his sabre. The latter dodged the blow, which 
had else been fatal, and turning quickly fired two revolver 
loads at Latane, killing him instantly. A few minutes later 
and the Federal officer was cut down by the sabre of a Southern 
private. 

The 1st Virginia cavalry, under Colonel Fitz Lee, followed 
fast in the rear of the flying troopers and cnj^tmrJi ili.^ir camp, 
driving out five companies of cavalry, and securing several offi- 
cers and privates, a number of horses and arms, and a quantity 
of stores. The horses and prisoners were brought off, but the 
tents, stores, and wagons were burned. 

General Stuart had now to decide whether to return by the 
way he had come, or to cross the Chickahominy at a point 
lower down. If he chose the former, which was the route the 



116 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

enemy would be most likely to expect him to take, he would 
have to incur the risk of being cut off by a superior force, and 
hemmed in between the South Anna and the Pamunkey. On 
the other hand his guides informed him that the Chickahominy 
was fordable at the Forge Bridge. Should he select the latter 
route, he would pass entirely around the Federal army, though 
his original instructions did not contemplate such a movement 
on his part. He believed that if he could pass the York River 
Railroad in safety, he would be able to reach the Chickahominy 
without molestation. At all events, he could distance any in- 
fantry brought against him, and he believed his command capa- 
ble of taking care of the cavalry. Thus the latter route prom- 
ised to put him in possession of more complete information con- 
cerning the Federal position and strength, besides being, in 
spite of its risk, the safer of the two, all things considered. In 
view of this, General Stuart decided to adopt it, and the head 
of the column was turned toward Tunstall's Station, in New 
Kent County. In order to deceive the enemy, if possible, 
Stuart took care to inquire of the inhabitants concerning the 
road to Hanover Court House. 

The men knew not whither they were moving, save that they 
were going right in among the enemy, but their confidence in 
their leader was unshaken, and they followed with alacrity. 
The danger of pursuit rendered the rear an object of as much 
concern as the front, and one of the guns was sent to Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Martin for his greater security. No attack was 
made upon it, however. On the contrary a party of the enemy, 
twenty-five in number, came up to it with a flag of truce, and 
actually surrendered, thinking that Stuart but heralded the 
approach of Lee's whole army. 

Once in the Federal lines, the route of the column was 
marked by burning camps and wagons. The inhabitants gazed 
in silent wonder at the welcome sight of the gray jackets. 



THE RIDE AEOUND MC'CLELLAN. 117 

Old men and women would rush out from the houses along the 
route, and greet them with a tearful *' God bless you, boys !" 
"Our cavalry here!" they would exclaim. "What can it 
mean?" But no time was to be had for explanations, and the 
troops pushed on, followed by the warning cries of "Take care, 
men ! Take care ! Heaven bless you ; but take care, the 
cneni}' are everywhere." 

Just on the borders of New Kent, the squadron in the 
advance came upon an extensive sutler's establishment, pro- 
vided with all the luxuries as well as the necessaries of camp 
life. Here the hungry troopers halted, and called for such 
things as they wanted. The proprietor furnished them with 
alacrity, but upon demanding his pay, was told to his dismay 
that he and several Federal soldiers lounging around, were 
prisoners of war. The remainder of the column emptied the 
establishment of its contents, and then pressing on, halted at 
Garlick's where a couple of transports, lying in the Pamunkey, 
were destroyed. Then the column turned towards the railroad. 

A few picked men were sent in advance to secure the depot 
at Tunstall's and cut the telegraph wires. Hurrying forward, 
they surprised and captured, without firing a gun, the guard 
of fifteen or twenty men at the depot, and proceeded to obstruct 
the track. 

While this was going on the column came in sight of a long 
v.-agon train, guarded by five companies of cavalry. The guard 
fled at the sight of the Stuart's horsemen, and the train fell an 
easy prey into the hands of the latter. 

The party at the depot at Tunstall's was reenforced, and just 
as this was done a train of cars came thundering down from the 
army, en route for the White House. The men were hastily 
thrown out along the road, but, as the speed of the train was 
so great, it flew by, knocking the obstructions from the track. 
The troops at once opened fire on it, and as some of the cars 



118 LIFE OF GENEKAL LEE. 

were " flats," and loaded with Federal soldiers, a number were 
killed and wounded. Many leaped from the train in terror. 
Some were captured, but others escaped to the woods. 

It was now dark, and time was of the utmost importance. 
Still it was necessary to halt for awhile. The railroad bridge 
over Black Creek was fired, the horses and mules were taken 
from the train, and the wagons burned. Then, with the red 
glare of the burning train illumining the heavens, the march 
was resumed. The roads were in a horrible condition, and it 
was with great difficulty that the artillery could be dragged 
through the mud. This also caused the troops to straggle 
slightly, so that upon reaching Talleysville, General Stuart 
found it necessaiy to halt three and a half hours for the column 
to close up. Here he captured a large hospital with one hun- 
dred and fifty patients, but declined to molest it, thus allowing 
the sursreon in charge and the attendants to continue their 
humane work undisturbed. 

At twelve o'clock the men set off again, and marching all 
night reached Forge Bridge, on the Chickahominy, eight miles 
beyond, just at daylight on the morning of the 14th. Here 
General Stuart expected to be able to ford the stream. As 
soon as it was reached. Colonel Fitzhugh Lee tried the ford, 
but, to his disappoinhnent, found the river very deep, and the 
current very strong. 

The situation of the gallant troopers was now extremely 
perilous. They were within hearing of the Federal pickets, 
and strong bodies of Federal cavalry were scouring the coun- 
try, endeavoring to cut them off, their audacious exploits having 
roused all the energies of the Federal commander. The river 
in their front was impassable, and it seemed that they were 
doomed to capture at last. Man after man plunged into the 
stream at different points, hoping to find a ford, but in vain. 
The rivor must be bridged, or the command must fall into the 
hands of the enemy. Yet even this seemed a vain task. 



THE RIDE AROUND MC'CLELLAN. 119 

Quietly making his ai'rangements to guard against a surprise, 
General Stuart set the men to work to felling trees, and while 
engaged in this work, he was informed that the debris of the 
original bridge was still complete enough to require but little 
mending. Quickly moving his command to the spot, the old 
bridge was repaired, the materials being taken from an adjacent 
warehouse. By one o'clock in the afternoon the stream was 
passed in safety. Another branch of the Chickahominy was 
forded with difficulty, and the troops entered the Southern 
lines. The reconnoissance was ended. 

Besides gaining definite and reliable information concerning 
the position and strength of the Federal army. General Stuart 
captured one hundred and sixty-five prisoners, two hundred and 
sixty mules and horses, with more or less harness, and a number 
of small arms, besides inflicting upon the enemy a loss of several 
millions of dollars in property destroyed. All this was accom- 
plished with the loss of only one man, — the gallant Captain 
Latone. The troops behaved nobly. Except the brief halt on 
Thursday night, they were in the saddle from Thursday morn- 
ing until Saturday afternoon, never pausing for rest or food, 
but dashing on through numerous dangei's, and successfully 
achieving what will always be regarded as one of the most 
brilliant feats ever performed by any cavalry. 

Upon the return of the expedition, the following compli- 
mentary order was issued from the headquarters of the army. 

" Headquartebs Department of Northern Virginia, 

June 23, 18G2. 

" GENERAL ORDERS, 
No. 74. 

" The General Commanding announces, with great satisfac- 
tion, to the army, the brilliant exploit of Brigadier-General J. 
E. B. Stuart, with a part of the troops under his command. 
This gallant officer, with portions of the First, Fourth, and 



120 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Ninth Virginia cavalry, a part of the JefF. Davis Legion, with 
whom were the Boykin Rangers, and a section of the Stuart 
horse artillery, on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of June, made a 
reconnoissance between the Pamunkey and the Chickahominy 
rivers, and succeeded in passing around the rear of the whole 
Federal army, routing the enemy in a series of skirmishes, 
taking a number of prisoners, and destroying and capturing 
stores to a large amount. Having most successfully accom- 
plished the object of the expedition, he recrossed the Chick- 
ahominy almost in the presence of the enemy, with the same 
coolness and address that marked every step of his progress, 
and with the loss of but one man, the lamented Captain 
Latane, of the 9th Virginia calvary, who fell bravely lead- 
ing a successful charge against a superior force of the enemy. 
In announcing this signal success to the army, the General 
Commanding takes great pleasure in expressing his admiration 
of the courage and skill so conspicuously exhibited throughout 
by the General, and the officers and men under his command. 

" In addition to the officers honorably mentioned in the 
report of the expedition, the conduct of the following privates 
has i-eceived the special commendation of their commanders : — 
Private Thomas D. Clapp, Company D, 1st Virginia Cavalry, 
and J. S. Mosby,* serving with the same regiment ; Privates 
Ashton, Brent, R. Herring, F. Herring, and F. Coleman, 
Company E, 9th Virginia Cavalry. 

By command of General Lee. 

R. H. Chilton, A. A. Genera/. 

* Afterwards Colonel John S. Mosby, the famous partisan leader. 



GEN. lee's plan OF OPERATIONS. 121 



XII. 

GENERAL LEE'S PLAN OF OPERATIONS. 

The rcconnoissance of General Stuart brought to light the 
important fact that the Tottapotomoi, a small stream running 
across the Federal right flank, and naturally a very strong 
position, was totally undefended. General Stuart also ascer- 
tained that it was entirely practicable to gain the enemy's rear 
in that direction, and he was of the opinion that an attack 
made from the direction of Cold Harbor would result in Mc- 
Clellan's ruin if accompanied by a vigorous assault in front. 

The information thus gained was favorable to the plan Gen- 
eral Lee had at first proposed, and he resolved to carry it out 
at once. With a view to this he had, immediately upon 
assuming the command of the army, ordered the construction 
of strong defensive works along his line, which might enable a 
part of the army to hold the Federals in check before the city, 
and leave the rest free to operate against them. 

The time was favorable. Jackson had prevented the junc- 
tion of McClellan and McDowell, and had not only escaped 
from the forces of Shields and Fremont, which had been sent 
to cut off his retreat from the Potomac, but had defeated them, 
and rendered them useless for the rest of the campaign. His 
army was now resting near Staunton, where its communications 
with Kichmond were uninteiTupted, and it was now resolved to 
bring him to the Chickahominy, to unite in the great struggle 
for tlie Southern Capital. In order to induce the Federal 
authorities to believe that Jackson was being reenforced for a 
new campaign, and thus cause them to retain in Northern Vir- 
16 



122 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

ginia the troops originnlly intended for McClellan, as well as to 
blind them to Lee's real intentions, Whiting's division was sent 
to join Jackson. It was embarked on the cars of the Danville 
Railroab, and the train was halted opposite Belle Isle, which 
was occupied by a large number of Federal prisoners just about 
to be exchanged. It was designed that they should see the 
movement and report it to General McClellan upon their 
arrival at Fortress Monroe. On the 20th, the division reached 
General Jackson. 

As soon as the information gained by General Stuart decided 
General Lee to adopt the plan he had at first proposed, he 
ordered General Jackson to move towards Richmond at once, 
which order Jackson proceeded promptly to execute, taking 
cai'c to preserve the utmost secrecy concerning his movements.* 
On the morning of the 25th of June, his corps was at Ashland 
on the Fredericksburg Railroad, sixteen miles from Richmond, 
and not far from Hanover Court House. Riding on in ad- 
vance, General Jackson visited General Lee's headquarters, 
where he was made fully acquainted with the plan of the Com- 
manding General, after which he returned to his corps. 

General Lee had determined to strike the blow at McClel- 
lan's right flank and rear. By pressing him vigorously in that 
quarter, and threatening his communications, it was believed 
that he would be compelled to retreat or give battle out of his 
intrenchments. The plan is stated in full in the following 
order : — 

* As a,n instance of the way in wliicli such important military secrets were 
kept during the war, I will state that I was told a few days before the battles 
began, that all the cars on the Central Eailroad had been ordered towards 
Staunton, to bring Jackson's troops to Riclimond, to aid in an attack on 
McClellan. My informant gave as his authority, Colonel Harman, Jackson's 
Quartermaster. I have no reason to believe that I was the only person so 
favored. 



GEN. lee's plan OF OPERATIONS. 123 

"Headquaktees Abmt Northern Virginia. 
June 24th, 18G2. 

" GENERAL ORDERS, 

No. 75. 

"I. General Jackson's command will proceed to-morrow 
from Ashland towards the Slash Church, and encamp at some 
convenient point west of the Central Railroad. Branch's brig- 
ade of A. P. Hill's division, will also, to-morrow evening, take 
position on the Chickahominy, near Half Sink. At three 
o'clock Thursday morning, twenty-sixth instant, General Jack- 
son will advance on the road leading to Pole Green Clmrch, 
communicating his march to General Branch, who will imme- 
diately cross the Chickahominy, and take the road leading to 
Mechanicsville. As soon as the movements of these columns 
ai-e discovered. General A. P. Hill, with' the rest of his divi- 
sion, will cross the Chickahominy near Meadow Bridge, and 
move direct upon Mechanicsville. To aid his advance, the 
heavy batteries on the Chickahominy will, at the proper time, 
open upon the batteries at Mechanicsville. The enemy be- 
ing driven from Mechanicsville, and the passage across the 
bridge opened, General Longstreet, with his division, and 
that of General D. H. Hill, will cross the Chickahominy, 
at or near that point, — General D. H. Hill moving to the 
support of General Jackson, and General Longstreet support- 
ing General A. P. Hill, — the four divisions keeping in com- 
munication with each other, and moving in echelon on separate 
roads, if practicable ; the left division in advance with skir- 
mishers and sharpshooters extending in their front, will sweep 
down the Chickahominy, and endeavor to drive the enemy from 
his position above New Bridge; General Jackson, bearing well 
to his left, turning Beaver Dam Creek, and taking the direction 
toward Cold Harbor. They will press forward toward York 
River Railroad, closing upon the enemy's rear, and forcing him 



124 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

down the Chickahominy. Any advance of the enemy toward 
Richmond will be prevented by vigorously following his rear, 
and crippling and arresting his progress. 

"II. The divisions of General Huger and Magruder will 
hold their positions in front of the enemy against attack, and 
make such demonstrations, Thursday, as to discover his opera- 
tions. Should the opportunity offer, the feint will be converted 
into a real attack ; and should an abandonment of his intrench- 
raents by the enemy be discovered, he will be closely pursued. 

" III. The 3d Virginia cavalry will observe the Charles City 
road. The 5th Virginia, the 1st North Carolina, and the 
Hampton Legion cavalry Avill observe the Darbytown, Varina, 
and Osborne roads. Should a movement of the enemy down 
the Chickahominy be discovered, they will close upon his flank 
and endeavor to arrest his march. 

"IV. General Stuart, with the 1st, 4th, and 9th Virginia 
cavalry, the cavalry of Cobb's Legion, and the Jeff Davis Le- 
gion will cross the Chickahominy to-morrow, and take position 
to the left of General Jackson's line of march. The main body 
will be held in reserve, with scouts well extended to the front 
and left. General Stuart will keep General Jackson informed 
of the movements of the enemy on his left, and will cooperate 
with him in his advance. The 16th Virginia cavalry. Colonel 
Davis, will remain on the Nine Mile road. 

"V. General Ransom's brigade, of General Holmes' com- 
mand, will be placed in reserve on the Williamsburg road, by 
General Huger, to whom he will report for orders. 

"VI. Commanders of divisions will cause their commands 
to be provided with three days' cooked rations. The necessary 
ambulances and ordnance trains will be ready to accompany the 
divisions, and receive orders from their respective commanders. 
Officers In charge of all trains, will invariably remain with 
them. Batteries and wagons will keep on the right of the road. 



MECHANICSVILLE. 125 

The Chief Enguieer, Major Stevens, will assign engineer offi- 
cers to each division, whose duty it will be to make provision 
for overcoming all difficulties to the progress of the troops. 
The Staff department will give the necessary instructions to fa- 
cilitate the movements herein directed. 

" By command of General Lee. 
"E. H. Chilton, A. A. General.'' 

" Official. 
T. M. E. Talcott, 

Major and Aide-dc-Camp." 

Owing to unavoidable delays, all of General Jackson's com- 
mand did not reach Ashland soon enough to begin the march 
at the time designated on the 25th, and consequently the march 
of his command on the 26th was much longer than had been 
expected. 



XIII. 
MECHANICSVILLE. 

While the preparations of the Southern forces were going on, 
General McClellan was anxiously watching for something which 
misrht inform him of their intentions. After the battle of 
Seven Pines he proceeded to fortify his position with great care. 
His aggressive movements received a severe check in that bat- 
tle, and from that time he turned his attention to securing him- 
self ao-ainst an attack from Lee. Instead of " driving the ene- 
my to the wall," he quietly resigned to them the role he had 
intended to play in the great drama, and during the rest of the 
campaign his army presented the strange spectacle of an invad- 
ing force superior in numbers and resources to its enemy, 
anxiously awaiting attack, instead of making the assault. 



126 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

At last, however, it was decided to advance the picket line, 
and on the 25th of June, Kearney's and Hooker's divisions 
made a spirited attack on the" Confederate position on the 
Williamsburg road, held by General Huger. The effort was 
successfully resisted, and the Southern line fully maintained.* 

General JMcCIellan had committed a grave error in the dis- 
position of his army. He had placed Its two wings on different 
banks of the Chlckahoralny, which stream Intersected his line, 
about the centre, at right angles. Communication between the 
two wings, was maintained by a series of bridges, which were 
approached by roads almost always difficult, owing to the 
marshy nature of the ground. The sudden rise of the river at 
the period of the battle of Seven Pines had furnished the Fed- 
eral commander with a proof of its fickleness. His bridges 
were liable to be swept away, or the approaches to them flood- 
ed at any moment, in which event his two wings would be 
entirely cut off from each other. This situation exposed the 
winffs to the dan2:er of being attacked in detail, and, as was 
afterwards proved by the expedition of General Stuart, his 
communlcatlona with the White House his principal depot of 
supplies were almost at the mercy of the Confederates. 

The true policy of General McClellan, after the battle of 
Williamsburg, was to abandon the line of the Peninsula, and, 

* Brigadier General Wright, whose brigade was chiefly engaged in this 
affair writes as follows, in his official report : " The object of the enemy was 
to drive us back from our picket lines, occupy it himself, and thereby enable 
liim to advance his works several hundred yards nearer our lines. In this 
lie completely failed ; and although General McClellan at night telegraphed, 
over his own signature, to the War Office in Washington, that he had accom- 
plished his object, had driven me back for more than a mile, had silenced my 
batteries and occupied our camps, thero is not a word of truth in the whole 
^iaiement. When the fight ceased at dark, I occupied the very line my 
pickets had been driven from in the morning, and which I continued to hold 
until the total rout of the Federal army, on the twenty-ninth ultimo." Rebel- 
lion Record. Part lvii., p. 442, 



ME0HANIC8VILLE. i27 

after crossing the Chlckahominy at some point near to its 
mouth, move direct to the James River, and advance upon 
Richmond from that direction. In doing this, the iron-chid 
Virginia having been destroyed and Norfolk evacuated, he 
could have secured, by means of his fleet, a safe passage of the 
Chickahominy. After reaching the James, his left flank would 
have rested on that stream, under the protection of his shipping, 
and he would have been free to use his right with a fair pros- 
pect of success. Even had he been unsuccessful in his ag- 
gressive movements it would have been impossible for the 
Confederates to dislodge him from his position, and his cam- 
paign might have been successful in the end. It certainly 
would not have been such a decided failure as it proved. These 
considerations were outweighed, in the mind of General Mc- 
Clellan, by the hope of having McDowell's corps sent to him, 
and his heart seems to have been set upon striking a tremendous 
blow with it from the North of Richmond. For this reason 
alone, he chose the line of the Chickahominy In preference to 
the line of the James. Having made this choice, and estab- 
lished his base of operations at the White House, it became 
absolutely necessary to retain a large part of his army north 
of the swamp for the protection of his communications with his 
base. He seems to have been aware of the danjiers of his 
position, and to have contemplated a " change of base " to the 
James, but at the same time he feared the Confederates would 
anticipate him, and that his array Avould be obliged " to fight 
Its way through to the James." * Upon this intention to move, 
General McClellan founds his assertion that his subsequent 
retreat was a voluntary " change of base." This is somewhat 
like an Intruder who has entered a stronof man's dwellinof, with 
the intention of leaving It at an indefinite period, declaring, 

♦ McClellan's Report, pp. 242, 243. 



128 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

after the strong man has driven him out, that his exit is volun- 
tary. In a certain sense all retreats are voluntary. 

The knowledge of the insecurity of his position on the Chick- 
ahominy caused General McClellan to be constantly apprehen- 
sive of an attack from the Southern army. His fears were 
confirmed. While hesitating between an advance upon Rich- 
mond and a change of base, he was informed that General Lee 
liad decided his course for him, and that General Jackson was 
moving upon his exposed right flank. This information was 
first imparted by a deserter from Jackson's command on the 
24th of June. The intelligence was speedily confirmed by 
subsequent events, so that there was no doubt in the mind of 
the " Young Napoleon" as to the course his adversaries would 
pursue. On the night of the 25th of June he wrote to the 
Secretary of War, ' ' I incline to think Jackson will attack my 
right and rear," and, judging from the general tone of his let- 
ter, he was almost as well convinced of what the result would 
be.* 

On the morning of the 26th of June, General Jackson's com- 
mand, which, as has been stated, had not been able to com- 
mence its march on the previous day, moved from Ashland for 
Cold Harbor, with Whiting's division in the advance, and 
crossed the Central Railroad (which was to have been passed 
on the 25th) at ten o'clock, a. m. 

In the meantime General A. P. Hill had concentrated the 
Light Division near the Meadow Bridge, sending the brigade 
of General Branch to the point where the Brook road crosses the 
swamp. The division numbered in all about fourteen thousand 
men, and was supplied with seven batteries of artillery, one of 
which (Johnston's) accompanied General Branch. 

The reader will remember that General Jackson was to notify 

* McClellan's Report, p. 238. 



MECHANICSVILLE. 129 

General Branch of his advance. Branch was to cross immedi- 
ately upon receiving this message, and, as soon as he had un- 
covered the Meadow Bridge, A. P. Hill was to pass over. 
General Branch did not receive General Jackson's message 
until ten o'clock on the morning of the 26th, owing to the delay 
in the latter's advance from Ashland. He immediately passed 
the swamp with his brigade, and moved in the direction of 
Me.idow Bridge. He met with more opposition than he had 
expected, and his advance was very slow. 

General A. P. Hill had expected to commence his move- 
ment early in the morning, but these unavoidable delays de- 
tained him also. He waited impatiently until three o'clock in the 
afternoon of the 26th of June, but no tidings came from Jack- 
son or Branch. He knew they were engaged with the enemy, 
but as yet the latter had failed to open the way for him. Every 
moment was precious now that the movement had begun, and 
further delay might hazard the success of the Avhole plan. In 
view of this he determined to advance ac once. 

Field's brigade, which had been held in readiness, was 
promptly moved upon the bridge, which it captured at once. 
The outposts of the enemy being driven in, 'the whole division 
was enabled to cross the swamp in safety. Following the road 
for a few hundred yards, the command wheeled abruptly to the 
right, and, moving through the fields, marched direct upon 
Mechanicsville. The enemy greeted the advance with a heavy 
fire of artillery, but General Field, throwing his brigade into 
line of battle, with Pegram's battery in the centre, swept for- 
ward steadily, and, after a sharp conflict, drove the Federals 
from Mechanicsville. 

Up to this time the Confederates had encountered only the 

advanced forces of the enemy. The real position selected by 

the Federals was one of great strenfjth. It was about a mile 

back of Mechanicsville, and was located immediately on the left 

17 



130 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

bank of Beaver Dam Creek. This stream curves around Me- 
chanicsville, the banks on the left or North side being higher 
than and commanding the country opposite. The left of the 
Federal line rested on the Chickahominy, and the right in the 
thick woods beyond the upper road from Mechanicsville to Cold 
Harbor. Another road crossed the creek at Ellison's Mill. 
These were the only roads by which the Federal line could be ap- 
proached with artillery, and they were completely commanded by it. 
Immediately south of the creek was a valley, less than an eighth 
of a mile in width, which was almost too marshy to be passable 
for infantry. This was made still more difficult by masses of 
timber which had been felled along its entire course. The Fed- 
eral position, naturally so strong, had been selected with great 
care, and was defended by several lines of infantry and artillery, 
(the former posted in rifle pits,) extending from the base of the 
hill to the top. This line was held by the corps of Major-Gen- 
eral Fitz John Porter, General McClellan's ablest lieutenant, 
and it was to this stronghold that the advanced force retreated, 
after being driven out of Mechanicsville. 

As Hill's troops pressed on, they came under the fire of the 
Federal guns on Beaver Dam Creek, which commanded the 
village and surrounding country. A brief inspection of their 
position satisfied General Hill that it was too strong to be car- 
ried by a direct assault, and as he momentarily expected to hear 
the sound of Jackson's guns on the left, he refrained from mak- 
ing a direct attack. A part of his force was, however, sent by 
the upper Cold Harbor road to force a passage there, and com- 
municate with Jackson. A re2;iment succeeded in crossinsj to 
the right of the Federal works, and remained on the left bank 
of the Creek until dark, when it was withdrawn. 

At the same time Pender's brigade was thrown forward, to 
the right of Field's, in an attempt to force a passage of the 
Creek at Ellison's Mill. He made a gallant attack, charging 



MECHANICSVILLE. 131 

several times with great vigor, but only to be driven back by 
the withering fire of the Federals. A part of D. H. Hill's 
command having now arrived, Ripley's brigade was advanced 
to Pender's support, and another effort was made to turn the 
Federal left, with the same result. 

The battle ended at nine o'clock, the enemy having been 
driven from Mechanicsville to their works on Beaver Dam 
Creek, which they held successfully against all efforts to dis- 
lodge them. The Confederates passed the night on the ground 
they had won. Their loss was heavy, — between three and 
four thousand men.* The Federal loss was much smaller. 

By six o'clock in the afternoon, the movements of General 
A. P. Hill having uncovered the Mechanicsville Bridge, the 
divisions of Generals D. H. Hill and Longstreet were put in 
motion. At nine o'clock, the greater portion of these troops 
were over the stream. D. H. Hill was ordered to move by the 
Upper Cold Harbor road, and cooperate with Jackson, whUe 
Longstreet was advanced to the support of A. P. Hill. 

Thus far the plan of General Lee was successful. The four 
divisions were safely across the swamp, and though the Fed- 
erals still held their line on Beaver Dam Creek, there was no 
doubt that the approach of General Jackson would force them 
to abandon it in order to escape from being cut off from their 
left wing. The result proved the correctness of this view. 
Soon after the close of the action. General McClellan was 
informed of the approach of Jackson, and, seeing his danger, 
he at once ordered General Porter to fall back from Beaver 
Dam Creek towards the New Bridsje. Durinff the night of the 
26th, the greater part of the heavy guns and wagons were 
removed from Beaver Dam and sent to the south bank of the 



* See foot-note on page 145 of Swinton's " Campaigns of the Army of the 
Potomac." 



132 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Chickahominy, and shortly before daylight the troops began to 
retire, burning such things as they could not carry off. 

As I have stated, General Jackson's command crossed the 
Central Railroad at ten o'clock on the morning of the 26th. 
Whiting's division Avas in front, and the :eft flank was guarded 
by General Stuart, who, with his cavalry, moved a short dis- 
tance in advance. As the column approached Tottapotamoi 
Creek, a swampy stream, with high, bold banks, covered with 
thick woods, the wooden bridge was discovered to be in flames, 
and the enemy were heard in the forest beyond, felling trees to 
obstruct the road. Hood's Texans were thrown forward as 
skirmishers, and Reilly's battery shelled the woods. The 
enemy were quickly driven off, the bridge was repaired, and 
the command crossed the creek. The march was continued, 
the Federal rear- guard being driven rapidly before the column, 
and at night General Jackson bivouacked at Hundley's Corner. 
During the day he had borne steadily away from the Chick- 
ahominy, and had gained ground towards the Pamunkey, thus 
securing a position from which he could descend the next day 
on the Federal rear at Cold Harbor. At daylight on the morn- 
ing of the 27th, the march was resumed in the direction of 
Cold Harbor. 

General D. H. Hill, in accordance with General Lee's order, 
moved at daylight on the 27th, to join General Jackson. He 
found the crossing of Beaver Dam Creek held by the enemy, 
and at once made his arrangements to turn their position. Be- 
fore the attack could be commenced, however, the Federals 
withdrew, in obedience to General McClellan's instructions to 
General Porter. Hill then pushed on, and soon came up with 
Jackson near Bethesda Church. As he was moving upon the 
shorter road, he necessarily entered the main road before Whit- 
ing's division, and during the remainder of the movement, held 
the advance of Jackson's column. 



COLD HARBOR. 133 



XIV. 
COLD HARBOR. 

The morning of Friday, June 27th, found the Federals still 
in possession of their works. A sharp fire of artillery and 
musketry ushered in the day, and, as General Lee still expected 
the evacuation of the Federal line, no direct attack was made 
upon it. Until seven o'clock the engagement was maintained 
principally with ai'tillery. 

Porter's troops now withdrew from their works, and fell back 
rapidly, setting fire to a large amount of property in their 
abandoned camp, and leaving much besides uninjured. Their 
retreat was at once discovered, and their line immediately occu- 
pied by the Confederates. About an hour was spent in repair- 
ing the bridges, and then the pursuit began. General Long- 
street was directed to move by the river road in the direction of 
the New Bridge, and A. P. Hill was sent towards Gaines' 
Mill, about a mile from Cold Harbor. 

Thus, by ten o'clock in the morning, the situation of affairs 
was as follows : McClellan was withdrawing his right wing for 
a last struggle north of the Chickahominy, while the commands 
of Jackson, D. H. Hill, A. P. Hill, and Longstreet were 
moving steadily upon him. So far, everything had gone well 
for the Confederates. 

The passage of the Chickahominy and the attack upon his 
right wing by the Confederates, convinced General McClellan 
that his plan of campaign had failed. It now remained for 
him to adopt some other plan. His position was for him most 
unfortunate, and he was compelled to choose between alterna- 
tives, each of which involved great risks. It was useless to 



134 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

think of concentrating the whole army on the north bank of 
the swamp, and fighting for his communications with the White 
House, for Jackson was already in a position to seize them, 
and assuredly would do so before his array could be concen- 
trated. Besides this, In case of defeat his line of retreat to the 
James River would be lost. He had therefore but two alterna- 
tives — either to abandon his present position and retreat, or 
to mass his army suddenly south of the swamp, and march 
upon Richmond. 

The latter movement was one which required great boldness, 
but it was also one which promised the most brilliant results. 
In commencing his attack, General Lee had left on the south 
side only the divisions of Magruder and Huger, about twenty- 
five thousand men. The Federal force on that side was already 
about eighty thousand strong,* and the bridges connecting the 
two wings were In good order. By massing his army suddenly 
and hurling It upon the Southern line, there can be but little 
doubt that McClellan would have broken through it. Having 
gained this advantage, he could have held the bridges and 
fords above the New Bridge, and have prevented the passage 
of the swamp by General Lee in time to save Richmond. f 

* All Federal accounts agree in placing the Federal force at Cold Harbor 
at about thirty-five thousand. The army was one hundred and fifteen thou- 
sand strong. This would place the strength of the left wing at about eighty 
thousand. 

t General Lee, in his remarks on Magruder's report, says, " The troops on 
the two sides of the river were only separated until we succeeded in occupy- 
ing the position near what is known as New Bridge, which occurred before 12 
o'clock M. on Friday, June 27th, and before the attack on the enemy at Gaines' 
Mill. From the time we reached the position referred to I regarded commu- 
nication between the two wings of our army as reestablished. * * The New 
Bridge was sufficiently rebuilt to be passed by artillery on Friday night, and 
the one above it was used for the passage of wagons, ambulances, and troops, 
early on Saturday morning. Besides this, all other bridges above New Bridge, 
and all the fords above that point were open to us." In spite of this, I see no 



COLD HARBOR. 135 

Failing to adopt this bold plan, there remained nothing but 
retreat, for it was morally certain that nothing could save the 
right wing from disaster, and its defeat involved the loss of the 
White House and York River Railroad. 

Two lines of retreat presented themselves. The first was the 
same route that had been traversed by the Confederates in their 
retreat from Yorktown. This, however, was full of danger. 
It was the longer of the two, and would expose him at every 
step to the fierce attacks of the victorious Confederates, and 
might result in the ruin of his army. The other route was 
through White Oak Swamp to the James River. The distance 
was only about twenty-five miles, and the character of the 
country was such as would enable him, not only to conceal 
many of his movements, but also to impede the progress of his 
pursuers at critical junctures. Besides tliis, it was the move- 
ment he had been wishinfj yet hesitating to make for so lone: a 
time, and if he could reach the James in safety with his army, 
he hoped to undertake a new campaign from that quarter 
against Richmond. There was, however, this difference be- 
tween the movement he had wished to make and that to which 
he was now forced, — that the former might have been under- 
taken without the fearful losses of life and property which at- 
tended the latter. It would also have been an aggressive 
movement, and not a compulsory flight from a victorious 
enemy. 

Having decided to retreat to the James, General McClellan 
proceeded to make his arrangements accordingly. It was im- 
possible to commence the movement at once, as the presence of 
Jackson's command in the neighborhood of Cold Harbor endan- 
gered the safety of the whole Federal army ; for should Porter 

reason to change my opinion that had General McClellan promptly advanced 
his whole army on Friday morning, Richmond would have fallen. The mere 
momentum of his enormous column would have been irresistible. 



136 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

be withdrawn across the stream, and the movement revealed to 
the Confederates, General Lee would at once throw Jackson's 
corps across the river at a point lower down, and occupy Mal- 
vern Hill, or some other locality, and would thus block the 
road to the James. It was necessary, therefore, in consequence 
of the bad character of the Federal position, that Porter should 
at least attempt to hold his ground, during the 27th — in other 
words that his command sliould be sacrificed in order to secure 
the safety of the rest of the army. Accordingly General Por- 
ter Avas ordered to evacuate his lines on Beaver Dam Creek, 
and fall back to the strong works at Cold Harbor. 

The position selected by the Federal commander was one of 
great natural strength, and had been carefully fortified during 
the time it had been held by his troops. By a singular fatality 
k was destined to be the scene of two of the fiercest struggles 
of the whole war, each of which was to result in a Southern 
victory. The enemy's line was located on a range of hills 
extending from the Chickahominy to Cold Harbor, and was 
immediately behind Powhite Creek, a small, marshy stream, 
running through a densely wooded country. The right rested 
in the rear of Cold Harbor, and was posted in the woods and 
clearings, and the left near Doctor Gaines' house, on a wooded 
bluff which rose abruptly from a deep ravine leading down to 
the Chickahominy. " The ravine was filled with sharpshooters,, 
to whom its banks gave protection. A second line of infantry 
was stationed on the side of the hill, behind a breastwork of 
trees, above the first. A third occupied the crest, strength- 
ened with rifle trenches and crowned with artillery. The ap- 
proach to this position was over an open plain, about a quarter 
of a mile wide, commanded by this triple line of fire, and swept 
by the heavy batteries south of the Chickahominy. In front 
of his centre and right, the ground was generally open, bound- 
ed on the side of our approach by a wood, with dense and 



COLD HARBOR. 137 

tangled undergrowth, and traversed by a sluggish stream, 
which converted the ground into a deep morass. The woods 
on the farther side of the swamp were occupied by sharp- 
shooters, and trees had been felled to increase the difficulty of 
its passage, and detain our advancing columns, under the fire 
of infontry, massed on the slopes of the opposite hills, and of 
their batteries on their crests."* This line of battle formed 
the arc of a circle, and covered the approaches to the bridges 
connecting the two wings of the Federal army. 

jNIoving on rapidly from Beaver Dam Creek, General Long- 
street's division came in front of the new Federal line, about 
one o'clock in the afternoon. His troops were at once thrown 
forward to feel the enemy, taking position before the famous 
timber breastwork, the key-point of the whole line. At the same 
time A. P. Hill reached Gaines' Mill. Driving off the Federal 
force at that point, by a charge of Gregg's brigade, he crossed 
the creek, and, moving forward, formed his line of battle in 
the vicinity of New Cold Harbor, nearly parallel to the road 
leading from that place toward McGehee's house. The divi- 
sion had commenced the enQ-ajjements with fourteen thousand 
men,f and had lost heavily at Mechanicsville, so that it was 
now barely eleven thousand strong. Yet with this force Hill 
was to attack thirty thousand troops strongly posted. 

About half past two o'clock he opened the battle with the 
brigades of Gregg, Branch, and Anderson. These made an 
impetuous attack and were met by the Federals Avith great 
determination. Pender's brigade was sent to Branch's assist- 
ance shortly after the battle began, and Field and Archer were 
also thrown forward, the last two with orders to turn the Fed- 
eral left. Moving forward across an open field, they were 
subjected to a terrible fire. The whole line being advanced, 
the Federal position was assailed in repeated charges. The 

* General Lee's Keport. f General A. P. Hill's Report. 

18 



138 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

16th and 22nd North Carolina Infantry at one time carried the 
crest of the hill, and broke the Federal line, but were beaten 
back iu a desperate struggle. Field and Archer moved steadily 
upon the enemy's left, but were met with such a fire that their 
men were forced to lie down. 

Thus far every attempt to storm the Federal lines had been 
repulsed, and now, the enemy, encouraged by this, swept for- 
ward fiercely upon Hill's command. Many of Hill's men had 
never been in action before, and they shrank from a fire which 
was so hot that even his veterans recoiled before it. The 
enemy gained ground steadily, despite the desperate resistance 
of the Confederates, and it seemed almost certain that night 
would descend upon a Federal victory. 

In this juncture General Lee directed General Longstreet to 
make a diversion on the rioht in favor of Hill. Movino; forward 
promptly, Longstreet saw the immense strength of the enemy's 
position in his front, and knew at a glance that if he wished to 
render any assistance to Hill, he must convert the feint into a 
real attack. This, with a promptness and energy characteristic 
of him, he at once prepared to do. The three brigades under 
General Wilcox, supported by those of Pickett and R. H. 
Anderson, were placed in line, and directed to assault the> 
enemy's position. Moving on, these gallant troops made a 
fierce attack, but were greeted with such a fire that they 
recoiled. 

It did indeed seem that victory was to crown the efforts of 
the enemy. The afternoon was rapidly drawing to a close, and 
all the attacks of the Confederates had been unsuccessful. Sud- 
denly the firing on the left increased in volume, rolling along 
the line in long, heavy peals. A great shout went up from the 
army, and the men cried in their joy, " It is Jackson ! It is 
Jackson ! " 

It was Jackson. He had been marching rapidly all day, 



COLD HARBOR. 139 

assured by the firing in the direction of the Chickahomiuy that 
he would not reach the field a moment too soon. After over- 
coming the obstacles in his way, which were greater than he 
had anticipated, he reached Cold Harbor just as Longstreet 
made his attack on the enemy's left — about half past five 
o'clock. He at once brought his troops into action with D. H. 
Hill on the left, and to the right of him E well's, Jackson's, 
and Whiting's divisions, in the order named. Whiting was 
hurried forward to reenforce Longstreet, and formed on his left, 
uniting his own left with A. P. Hill's right. The attack was 
renewed, the whole line advancing at once, the movements 
which I shall now describe being simultaneous. 

D. H. Hill's troops were the first to encounter the enemy. 
They moved across the swamp, the creek, the undergrowth, 
and obstructions in front, in the face of a heavy fire, and 
gallantly assailing the Federals, drove them from their first 
position, to a field some four hundred yards in the rear. Gen- 
eral Hill determined to press on, but, before doing so, ordered 
two of his regiments to take a battery on his left which would 
enfilade his line in its advance. This was gallantly accom- 
plished, and the battery was held until the division had passed 
over the dangerous ground, when it was retaken by the enemy. 
Hill continued to press the Federals back slowly until dark, 
when, throwing his line forward in a determined charge, in 
which the "Stonewall brigade " of Jackson's division joined, 
he drove them from the field. 

General Ewell's attack was made in the neio'hborhood of 
McGehee's house. The enemy held their ground bravely, and 
for four hours resisted the efforts of Ewell, who, about dusk, 
having exhausted his ammunition, withdrew his troops a short 
distance to await a fresh supply. Before it came the battle 
was over.* 

* The four brigades of Jackson's division did not act together, but were 
distributed among the other commands which needed reenforcements. 



140 LIFE OF GENEKAL LEE. 

General Whiting was sent to the assistance of General Long- 
street, and his arrival has been already mentioned. His 
division came into position just as Longstreet's men met their 
first check. The task of assaulting the Federal stronghold was 
committed to the Texas brigade of General Hood. An eye- 
witness thus describes the charge which decided the battle. I 

" While Hood's brigade was formed in line of battle, the 4th 
Texas was held in partial reserve, and soon became separated 
from the other regiments of the brigade. After remaining in 
the rear, lying down, for perhaps half an hour. General Hood 
came for us, and, moving by the right flank about half a mile, 
halted us in an open space to the right of some timber, and in 
rear of an apple orchard. The sight which we here beheld 
beggars description. The ground was strewn with the dead 
and dying, while our ranks were broken every instant with 
flying and panic-stricken soldiers. In front of us was the ' Old 
3rd brigade,' who, but a few moments before, had started with 
cheers to storm the fatal palisade. But the storm of iron and 
lead was too severe, they ' wavered ' for a moment, and fell 
upon the ground. At this instant, General Hood, who had, in 
person, taken command of our regiment, commanded in his 
clear ringing voice, ' Forward, quick, march,' and onward 
moved the little band of five hundred with the coolness of vet- 
erans. Here Colonel Marshall fell dead from his horse, pierced 
by a Minnie ball. Volleys of musketry, and showei's of grape, 
canister, and shell ploughed through us, but were only answered 
by the stern ' Close up — close up to the colors,' and onward 
they rushed over the dead and dying, without a pause, until 
within about one hundred yards of the breastworks. We had 
reached the apex of the hill, and some of the men, seeing the 
enemy just before them, commenced to discharge their pieces. 
It was at this point that preceding brigades had halted, and 
beyond which none had gone, in consequence of tlie terrible 



COLD HARBOR. 141 

concentrated fire of the concealed enemy. At this critical 
juncture the voice of General Hood was heard above the din 
of battle, 'Forward, forward, charge I'ight down on them, and 
drive them out with the bayonet.' Fixing bayonets as they 
moved, they made one grand rush for the fort; down the hill, 
across the creek and fallen timber, and the next minute saw our 
battle-flag planted upon the captured bi'eastwork. The enemy, 
frightened at the rapid approacli of pointed steel, rose up from 
behind their defences, and started up the hill at speed. One 
volley was poured into their backs, and it seemed that every 
ball found a victim, so great was the slaughter. Their works 
were ours, and, as our flag moved from the first to the second 
tier of defences, a shout arose from the shattered remnant of 
that regiment, and which will long be remembered by those 
who heard it ; a shout which announced that the wall of death 
was broken, and victory, which had hovered doubtfully for 
hours over that bloody field, had at length perched upon the 
battle-flag of the 4th Texas. Right and left it was taken up, 
and rang along the lines for miles ; long after many of those 
Avho had started it were in eternity." * 

In this charge the gallant 4th was supported by the 1st and 
5th Texas, and the 18th Georgia. Arriving at the crest of the 
hill no pause was made, but the line, pressing forward, drove 
back the enemy from their guns, and put to flight a squadron 
of cavalry which attempted to charge. The position was won, 
and other troops were hurried up t'^ Hood's assistance. The 
charge cost the Confederates one thousand men, but they cap- 
tured fourteen pieces of cannon and nearly a regiment of pris- 
oners. 

The key-point to the enemy's line being now in his possession, 

* The Campaign from Texas to Maryland, by Rev. N. A. Davis, Chaplain 
4th Texas Kegiment, pp. Sd, 55. 



142 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

General Lee threw forward his whole force, and the Federals 
were driven back with irresistible fury to the Chickahominy. 

It was now dark, and as the battle had greatly disarranged 
the Southern line, and the country being too unfavorable for a 
pursuit at night, the troops were halted on the ground they had 
won. 

The Federals retreated in confusion to the bridges. A cor- 
respondent of the New York Tribune thus described the scene 
at its commencement, in a letter written at the time : 

'* A motley mob started pell-mell for the bridges. They were 
overtaken by many just from the woods, and it seemed as if 
Bull Run were to be repeated. Meanwhile the panic extended. 
Scores of gallant officers endeavored to rally and re-form the 
stragglers, but in vain ; while many officers forgot the pride 
of tlieir shoulder-straps and the honor of their manhood, and 
herded with the sneaks and cowards. O, that I had known the 
names of those officers I saw, the brave and the cowardly, that 
here, now, I might reward and punish, by directing upon each 
individual the respect or the contempt of a whole people ! That 
scene was not one to be forgotten. Scores of riderless, terri- 
fied horses, dashing in every direction ; thick-flying bullets 
singing by, admonishing of danger ; every minute a man struck 
down ; wagons, and ambulances, and cannon blocking the way ; 
wounded men limping, and groaning, and bleeding amid the 
throng ; officers and civilians denouncing, and reasoning, and 
entreating, and being insensibly borne along with the mass ; 
the sublime cannonading, the douds of battle-smoke, and the 
sun just disappearing, large, and blood red, — I cannot picture 
it, but I see it and always shall." 

This confusion and disorder was checked at the bridges. 
Meagher's and French's brigades crossed the swamp, and, ad- 
vancing at the double quick, with fixed bayonets, brought the 
fugitives to a halt, when the officers immeduitely set to work to 



COLD HARBOR. 143 

restore order. They were successful, and the troops were with- 
drawn to the south side of the river during the night. The 
rear guard of Regulars crossed at six o'clock the next morning, 
destroying the bridge after them. 

Thus closed one of the most stubbornly contested battles of 
the war. The Confederates enjoyed the advantage of superior 
numbers, but their principle attacks were made with small 
bodies and upon positions of immense strength. The result 
was not only a victory for the Confederates, but was decisive of 
the campaign. The losses on both sides were heavy. I have 
not been able to find any exact statement of them in the re- 
ports of either army. They are believed, however, to have 
amounted to at least seven or eight thousand in the Southern 
army, and six or seven thousand on the other side.* 

General Lee sent the following dispatch to Richmond on 
Friday night : 

"Headquarters June 27, 1862. 
" His Excellency President Davis. 

"Mr. President: Profoundly grateful to Almighty God 
for the signal victory granted to us, it is my pleasing task to 
announce to you the success achieved by this army to-day. 

The enemy was this morning driven from his strong position 
behind Beaver Dam Creek, and pursued to that behind Powhite 
Creek, and finally, after a severe contest of five hours, entirely 
repulsed from the field. 

" Night put an end to the contest. I grieve to state that our 
loss in oflficers and men is great. 

" We sleep on the field, and shall renew the contest in the 
mornmg. 

" I have the honor to be, very respectfully, 
(Signed,) R. E. Lee, General^ 

* The loss in Jackson's corps is reported by him at three thousand two hun- 
dred and eighty-four. A. P. Hill and Longstreet, also, lost heavily. 



144 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 



XV. 

SAVAGE STATION. 

Saturday morning found the Federal army concentrated on 
the south bank of the Chickahominy. General McClellan had 
determined upon his course of action, and was now using every 
effort to prepare for his retreat. Amid the dangers which sur- 
rounded him, he seemed to have more of decision and vigor than 
he had shown at any previous time. It requires a good general 
to conduct a retreat in safety, especially when his army Is 
threatened by the dangers which surrounded the Army of the 
Potomac at this time. McClellan proved himself equal to the 
task before him, and It should not detract from the credit due 
to him, that he enjoyed advantages of great Importance over his 
adversary. 

One of these advantages was the Ignorance In which General 
Lee naturally remained concerning the Federal commander's real 
Intentions. He might yet give battle for the preservation of his 
communications ; he might attempt to retreat down the Penin- 
sula ; or, he might retreat to the James. It was necessary to 
await his movements. It was unfortunate that this was the 
case, but there was no help for It. 

In order that no time might be lost, however, Ewell's divis- 
ion was sent to seize the York River Railroad, and Stuart was 
directed to cooperate with him with the cavalry. Stuart moved 
in advance of Ewell, and soon reached Dispatch Station. The 
Federal forces at this point retreated across the river .in haste, 
burning the bridge in their rear, and Ewell coming up, de- 
stroyed a portion of the railroad. Here General Ewell halted 
to await further orders. 



SAVAGE STATION. 145 

During tlie forenoon tlie clouds of dust which rose from the 
Federal lines south of the Cliickahominy told plainly, that their 
anny was in motion. It was evident, from the absence of any 
Federal force on the north side of the Chickahominy, and the 
burning of the railroad bridge at Dispatch Station, that Mc- 
Clellan had abandoned the line of the York River Railroad. 
Still he had open to him the lower bridges of the Chickahom- 
inv, as well as the route to the James, and as the southern 
forces south of the river had not been able to detect any sign 
of a movement to the James, it was thought that he might 
attempt to escape down the Peninsula after all. Accordingly, 
General Ewell was directed to move from Dispatch Station to 
Bottom's Bridge, on the main road from Richmond to Williams- 
burg, to ascei'tain the movements of McClellan, and cut him 
off if he attempted to cross the Chickahominy at that point. 
He discovered no signs of such a movement, and the next day 
lejoined General Jackson. 

]Mean while, General Stuart, after the arrival of General 
Ewell at Dispatch Station, determined to push boldly down the 
road to the White House, in order to discover what force the 
enemy had there, and, if possible, to rout it. McClellan's 
arrangements had been already made, however. The line of 
tiic railroad had been abandoned, and the commander of the 
force at the White House had been ordered to send such of his 
stores as he could remove, and the water transportation to the 
James River, and destroy the remainder. 

A train of forage wagons, with a cavalry escort and a few 
sutler's establishments, were captured by the cavalry soon after 
leaving Dispatch Station. At all the prominent points along 
the road, cavalry pickets were driven off or captured, until 
Black Creek was reached. Here the enemy burned the bridge, 
and attempted to impede the progress of the cavalry, but they 
wore speedily put to flight and the bridge repaired. It was 
19 



146 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

now too dark to continue to advance, and General Stuart halted 
for the night, the men feeding their horses on corn captured at 
Tunstall's Station. 

During the afternoon, a large fire was discovered at the 
White House, and all night long this continued to burn stead- 
ily, and the flames and explosions of shell and ammunition told 
plainly that the enemy were destroying the stores at that point. 

As soon as it was day, General Stuart resumed his advance. 
Arriving within a quarter of a mile of the White House, he 
discovered a Federal gunboat at the landing. Colonel W. H. 
F. Lee, the proprietor of the estate, accompanied the expedi- 
tion, and was ordered by General Stuart to take a party of 
seventy-five sharpshooters, and drive off the gunboat. This 
was accomplished with the aid of one piece of artillery, and 
the steamer set off down the Pamunkey, followed by the how- 
itzer along the shore, which exploded its shells with great 
accuracy just over her decks. 

General Stuart captured a large amount of provisions (del- 
icacies as well as necessities) and forage. These were distrib- 
uted among the men and horses, who were in great need of 
food. Besides tliese, "nine barges, loaded with stores, were 
on fire as the cavalry approached ; immense numbers of tents, 
wagons, and cars, in long trains, loaded, and five locomotives; 
a number of forges ; quantities of every species of quartermas- 
ter's stores and property, making a total of many millions of 
dollars, — all more or less destroyed." 

From the White House, the cavahy moved, in compliance 
with an order from General Lee, to watch the lower bridges of 
the Chickahominy. 

The force which had been left by General Lee to hold the 
works in front of Richmond, consisted, as has been stated, of 
the divisions of Generals Mao-ruder and Husrer. General 
Holmes' command, about six thousand strong, was stationed 



SAVAGE STATION. 147 

in the vicinity of New Mnrket, near the James River, to watch 
the enemy in that direction, and prevent them from reaching 
the river. These commands were charged to be extremely 
vigilant, and to report instantly any movements on the part of 
tlie enemy. 

During the 26th and 27th, the Federal lines were closely 
observed, but nothing unusual was noticed. On the 28th, 
General Toombs, without asking or receiving instructions to 
that effect, attacked the Federal works on Golding's farm, and 
was repulsed with heavy loss. Fortunately, the enemy did not 
follow up this ridiculous movement of General Toombs by an 
advance of their line. Had they done so, they might have 
captured Garnett's farm, and inflicted considerable injury upon 
the Confederates. 

The day was spent in watching the enemy, whose powerful 
works effectually concealed their movements. At dark they 
were in possession of the Federal troops, and to all appearance 
fully manned. It was impossible to bring the Southern army 
across by the bridges in the Federal rear, as these were all 
destroyed, and their reconstruction impracticable in the presence 
of McClellan's whole army and powerful batteries. It was 
certain, however, that this suspense must be ended in some way 
in a few hours more, and on Saturday night General Lee di- 
rected the troops of Magruder and Huger to sleep on their 
arms, in order to move forward the instant the enemy's with- 
drawal should be discovered. General I.cc s>;;^ convinced 
fr&m the indications in his front, that a general movement was 
going on in the Federal lines, and as there were no signs of 
McCIellan attempting to move down the Peninsula, there could 
be no doubt that he was retreating to the James River. 

General Lee was right. On Saturday morning Keyes' 
corps, which held the extreme left of the Federal line, broke up 
its camp, and entered White Oak Swamp. By noon it had 



148 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

safely traversed this gloomy morass, and had occupied strong 
positions on the opposite side to protect the passage of the 
army. This was followed by the withdrawal of the wagons, 
five thousand in number, and a drove of twenty-five hundred 
beef cattle, all of which had to pass the swamp by one single 
road. During the night Porter's corps withdrew, also. The 
corps of Sumner and Heintzelman, and Smith's division of 
Franklin's corps were instructed to remain on the Richmond 
side of White Oak Swamp during the whole of the 29th, until 
dark, in order that the trains might get fairly out of danger. 
So well did McClellan mask these movements, that, although 
General Lee suspected them, the truth was not known until 
Sunday morning at sunrise, when the Federal works were 
found to be deserted. 

Early on the morning of the 29th Longstreet and A. P. 
Hill were ordered to recross the Chickahominy at the New 
bridge, and follow the enemy along the Darbytown road to the 
Long bridge ; Huger was ordered to pursue by the Charles 
City road, so as to take the Federal army in flank ; Magruder 
was ordered to move by the Williamsburg road, and attack the 
enemy in the rear ; and Jackson was directed to repair Grape- 
vine bridge, cross there, move down the Chickahominy by way 
of Savage Station, and cooperate with Magruder. These dis- 
positions would, it was believed, effectually prevent the escape 
of the enemy, and result in the capture or destruction of the 
greater portion of their army. 

All the columns but that of General Jackson moved early on 
Sunday morning. Jackson was detained all day repairing 
Grapevine bridge, and did not cross the Chickahominy until the 
night of the 29th. 

General Lee's dispositions were excellent, but McClellan had 
gained twenty-four hours, and this, together with the nature of 
the country through which he was moving, gave him advantages 



feazier's farm. li-i) 

of which no pursuit, however vigorous or well planned, could 
deprive him. 

Magruder moved early in the morning, and, advancing 
through the deserted works of the enemy, — meeting on every 
hand large quantities of stores and property, a part in an excel- 
lent state of preservation, Jind the remainder more or less in- 
jured, — reached Savage Station late in the afternoon. Here 
he found the corps of General Sumner, which constituted the 
reac guard of the Federal army. Magruder at once attacked 
with McLaws' division, and two regiments of another division. 
A severe action ensued, lasting two hours, when darkness put 
an end to it. Sumner held his ground, and during the night 
of the 29th withdrew across White Oak Swamp, destroying the 
bridges after him. The enemy destroyed large quantities of 
stores at Savage Station. Several hundred prisoners were 
taken, and the Federal dead and wounded, together with much 
property, and a large hospital, containing twenty-five hundred 
patients, fell into the hands of the Confederates, Unfortunate- 
ly the necessary medical stores and supplies for the hospital 
were destroyed by tlie enemy, and the Confederates were not 
able to replace them. 



XVI. 

FRAZIER'S FARM. 

The retreat of the Federal army was conducted with the 
utmost vigor. Before entering upon a narration of the events 
which followed the battle of Savage Station, it will be interest- 
ing to glance at the condition of the retreating army as it 
stru2f2;led throusrh the dangerous morass. The followinoj vivid 
description is from the pen of a distinguished Northern author : 



150 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

*' To some of the sufferers death was coming every 
hour. * * All the day of Saturday the regiments of the 
ri<Tht wino- of the national army, were marching rapidly by 
Sava2;c Station, taking the road towards the James River. 
Frequent scouts were sent out to give warning of any approach 
of the enemy. The road led through a region of impenetrable 
swamps and forests, where it would be very easy to entrap an 
army into ambuscades. The negroes, always our fast friends, 
lent us invaluable aid in these emergencies. They were our 
only guides. The country had not been explored by our cav- 
alry, and our retreating troops struggled through these entan- 
gling mazes led only by the ignorant but faithful contra- 
binds *********** 

' ' The route of the retreating army was directly through the 
heart of White Oak Swamp. Multitudes of wounded men 
hobbled along in the melancholy train. All the ambulances 
which could be found were loaded with such sufferers as it was 
possible to move. A large number who could not be moved 
were left to the tender mercies of the enemy. ******* 

' ' At ten o'clock Saturday night the last of the Union troops 
left Woodbury bridge. A single company of cavalry had been 
left to guard the passage. As night came on, that they might 
deceive the rebels, they lighted camp-fires as for a vast army. 
The fires of the rebels gleamed brilliantly on the opposite 
banks. The scene presented was solemnly sublime. The 
night was dark, and gathering clouds threatened a tempest. 
The exhausted soldiers could not stop for rest. All the night 
long onward they dragged their weary limbs. 

" It was about six miles from Savage Station to White Oak 
Swamp bridge. This whole distance was jammed full of wag- 
ons, horses, cannon, ambulances, pontoon boats, and all 
the indescribable material of a great army. There were fre- 
quent halts when the current became clogged. The scene of 



frazier's farm. 155 

confusion which then ensued beggars description. Twenty 
wagons would often be side by side. The eiOPorts of the officers 
to push the line along, the shouting of the teamsters, the 
straggling of the horses, the occasional break-downs presented 
a picture of tumult which Babel could hardly have surpassed. 
During the whole of the day there was but little fighting, as 
our movements were concealed from the knowledge of the 
enemy. » * * * 

" The sun of the Sabbath morning, June 29th, rose over 
this scene of tumult and consternation. It ushered in one of 
the most glaring and sultry of summer days. The heat was all 
but insupportable. ***** Early in the morning the whole 
army, with all its vast artillery and baggage trains, was on the 
move. * * * There was not a breath of air. The sun poured 
down fiercely upon the unsheltered heads of the troops. There 
was an incessant rattle of musketry, and roar of artillery. As 
we were slowly driven along we were compelled to leave our 
dead and many of the severely wounded behind us. The liurry 
was so great and the heat so intolerable, that the troops threw 
away their knapsacks and their outer garments, but desperately 
clenched their weapons, which they would surrender only with 
their lives. 

" Many, from the effect of sunstroke, dropped by the way- 
side, foaming at the mouth and raving in delirium. During 
most of this time round shot and shells fi'om the enemy's artil- 
lery were dropping in our ranks. Occasionally, as our rear- 
guard made a stand, a fierce battle ensued. ***** 

" Gathering clouds in that rainy land had brought the day 
to an early close, and a stormy night set in. * * * On, on 
pressed the rear-guard through the Egyptian darkness of the 
tempest-riven night, — the forest illumined by incessant flashes 
of lightning, and the heaviest peals of thunder breaking over 
their heads. All arms of the service were mixed and crowded 



152 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

together in the narrow road, while still, a degree of order was 
preserved far better than could have been supposed possible. 
Columns of infantry, gun-carriages, squadrons of cavalry, were 
all commingled, while the gleaming lightning flashed along the 
bayonets and bright bands of the muskets, in strong contrast 
with the dark mass surging onward like a swollen stream. 

" The entire capacity of the road was filled with the moving 
multitude, as were, also, the fields beside the road wherever the 
ground was suflSciently firm. The whole line of the retreat 
was marked by abandoned baggage wagons, broken-down cais- 
sons, and all the debris of a routed army. It was observed 
that themen spoke in low tones of voice. All loud noises were 
avoided as the rear-guard pressed on, hoping to get through the 
swamp before the dawn of morning. * * * * Now and then, 
all along the lines, soldiers, utterly exhausted, would throw 
themselves down for a few moments' sleep, and then, terrified 
lest they should fall into the hands of the enemy, would spring 
up, and, not more than half awake, toil painfully on."* 

It was indeed a fearful march ; one that few armies could 
have made so well. 

General Jackson's corps reached Savage Station early on the 
morning of the 30th of June. He was directed to pursue the 
enemy by the road he had taken, and Magruder to follow 
Longstreet by the Darby town road. As General Jackson ad- 
vanced, with D. H. Hill's division in front, he captured about a 
thousand prisoners, and so many arms that the 5th and 4th 
North Carolina regiments had to be detached to take care of 
them. Pressing on, he reached the crossing at White Oak 
Swamp. Thei^e he found the bridge destroyed, and the enemy 
in force, holding the opposite side. Twenty-eight guns from 
Hill's and Whiting's divisions were brought up, and about half 

* Heroic Deeds of Heroic Men. By Rev. J. S. C. Abbott. Published in 
Harper's Magazine. 



frazier's farm. 153 

past two o'clock on INIondcay afternoon, opened on the enemy, 
driving them back a short distance to the cover of the woods/ 
A skirmish line was thrown across the Creek, but was quickly 
driven back, and until dark the enemy disputed the ground so 
vigorously that Jackson was held in check, although the artil- 
lery and musketry in the direction of the further end of the 
swamp, told him plainly that Longstreet was hotly engaged. 
It was impossible to move on, however. There was but one 
narrow crossing-place, and that was so completely commanded 
by the enemy that it would have been madness to attempt to 
force it. 

Thus, while Jackson was compelled to remain idle, important 
events were transpiring beyond the swamp. Longstreet had 
marched rapidly, and on JMonday afternoon arrived in the vicin- 
ity of the Quaker road, by which the Federal army was hurry- 
ing to the James. The Long Bridge road intersects the Qua- 
ker road at right angles, very near the point where the latter 
plunges into White Oak Swamp. A little nearer to the swamp 
the Charles City road enters the Quaker road. Longstreet was 
moving by the Long Bridge road, and Huger by the Charles 
City road, while Jackson was advancing upon the Federal rear 
along the Quaker road by which the Federal army was retreat- 
ing. Should these columns unite, or fall upon him simulta 
neously. General McClellan would be ruined. Lee's whole 
army would then be united, and he would be at their mercy. 
If, however, he could prevent the union of these forces, he 
might bring his army safely by the dangerous locality. This 
accomplished, his whole army would be united almost within 
sight of the James, and in the open country ; and should Lee 
continue to advance, the whole Federal force could be brought 
against him. To accomplish this difficult and dangerous task 
three things were necessary, — to prevent Jackson fi'om pass- 
ing "White Oak Swamp, to hold the New Market cross roads 
20 



154 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

(the point of intersection of the Quaker and Long Bridge roads) 
against Longstreet until the army had passed by in safety, and 
to prevent the column of Huger from uniting with Longstreet. 
The first, as wo, have seen, was successfully done, and Huger, 
whose movements were much slower and more cautious than 
they should have been, was detained on the Charles City road 
until Tuesday morning. 

To resist the advance of Longstreet who arrived about one 
o'clock in the afternoon, McClellan posted McCall's division 
of Pennsylvania Reserves, at the intersection of the roads, 
forming the line across the New Market road, at right angles to 
it, and in front of and parallel to the Quaker road. Kearney's 
division was on McCall's right, Sumner's corps was on McCall's 
left, and a short distance in rear of it, and Hooker's division 
was on Sumner's left. 

Upon reaching the field Longstreet formed his line with his 
own division on the right, and that of A. P. Hill on the left. 

General Holmes, who had been ordered to watch the enemy 
in the vicinity of Malvern Hill, reported their arrival in that 
direction, and, as he believed they were approaching in much 
confusion, he was ordered to open on them with his artillery. 
He was prevented from accomplishing anything by the fire of a 
superior force of Federal artillery, assisted by several gunboats 
in the James. Magruder, who had reached the Darby town 
road, was ordered to reenforce Holmes, but the distance being 
greater than was at first supposed, he did not reach the latter in 
time to attack the enemy. 

Huger early in the day reported that his progress was ob- 
structed, but as his orders were to push forward as rapidly as 
possible, it was confidently expected that he would come up 
durino; the afternoon. Thus when Lono:street formed his line 
of battle on Frazier's Farm, General Lee, who had placed him- 
self with this part of the army, fully expected to use the 



frazier's farm. 155 

commands of Huger and Jackson in his attack upon the enemy, 
beinir iofnorant of the forced halt of the latter in White Oak 
Swamp. 

About four o'clock in the afternoon, firing was heard in the 
direction of the Charles City road. As it was believed that 
these were Huger's guns, Longstreet opened with one of his 
batteries to announce his presence. Huger did not arrive, how- 
ever, and the enemy holding Jackson in check, the attack was 
made with but the two divisions of Longstreet and A. P. Hill. 

The firing of Longstreet's guns was replied to by a heavy 
cannonade from the enemy, and this brought on the engage- 
ment. Longstreet at once threw forward his infantry, assailing 
McCall's left. jNIcCall met this demonstration promptly by a 
change of front on that flank, and the battle raged with great 
violence. The nature of the ground was such that concert 
of action, so essential to success, could not obtain.* Still the 
Confederates pressed forward vigorously, steadily pushing back 
the enemy, who were in greatly superior force, and whose 
splendid artillery was magnificently served. 

Finding himself opposed by such heavy force, General Long- 
street, soon after the battle opened, ordered General A. P. 
Hill to send a brigade to the left to the support of the troops 
engaged thex'e, and shortly afterwards Hill's whole division was 
ordered to advance. Hill moved forward rapidly, and fell upon 
the enemy with vigor. Seeing that the Federal batteries were 
doing great execution by their accurate and rapid fire, his men 
were ordered to charge them. The order was promptly exe- 
cuted. The 60th and 55th Virginia dashed forward upon two 
batteries of Napoleon guns. The enemy made a stout resist- 
ance, gallantly defending their guns to the last. A sharp hand- 
to-hand fight, in which bayonet wounds were freely given and 
returned, ensued, but at length the Federals were driven back, 

♦General Longstreet's Report. 



156 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

and the guns remained in the hands of their captors. The 47th 
Virginia also took a battery, and turned its guns upon the 
enemy, doing great execution, and materially assisting General 
Greo-f's brigade which was hotly engaged on the left. Towards 
dark, this same regiment captured Major-General McCall, the 
Commander of the Pennsylvania Reserves. 

Niirht had now fallen over the field, and the battle was still 
raging. The enemy had been driven steadily at all points save 
one — their right. The ground had been contested and won 
inch by inch. The enemy clung to this part of the field with a 
desperate resolution, and held it until the firing ceased at nine 
o'clock that night. With the exception of the Federal right, 
the entire field was left in possession of the Confederates, into 
whose hands also fell the Federal dead and wounded. Had 
Huger arrived in time to assail their right, as was expected, a 
great disaster would have befallen them. In consequence of his 
absence, and that of General Jackson, the Federal Army was 
enabled to pass from Wliite Oak Swamp towards the river with 
no greater loss than that suffered in the battle of Frazier's 
Farm . 

Having accomplished this, McClellan withdrew Franklin's 
command from the swamp, and the next morning Jackson 
crossed over, and rejoined the army on the battle-field of the 
previous night. 

In this engagement the enemy suffered a loss of many pris- 
oners, including Major-General McCall, fourteen pieces of 
artillery, and several thousand small arms. The Southern loss 
is not stated. 

A severe blow had been inflicted upon the enemy, but 
McClellan, owing to the failure of Generals Jackson and Huger 
to reach the field in time, had been enabled to bring his whole 
army out of the swamp in safety, and this more than repaid 
him for the losses suffered in the battle. Durino; the niijht his 



SIALVERN HILL. 157 

troops were silently withdrawn, and moved back toward Mal- 
vern Hill. 



XVII. 
MALVERN HILL. 

The morning of July 1st found the entire Confederate army 
concentrated on the battle-field of Frazier's Farm. With the 
battle of the previous evening the dangers which had threatened 
McClellan really ended. Up to that time it had been within 
the power of the Confederates to fall upon the flank of his 
army, and cut it asunder. This should have been accomplished, 
and had General Huger been more energetic and vigorous in 
his movements this fate would have befallen the Federal army. 
But this unfortunate delay was taken advantage of by McClel- 
lan. Jackson's progress was checked at White Oak Swamp, 
and Longstreet was held at bay long enough for his army to 
pass in safety beyond its pursuers. It was now impossible to 
prevent him from reaching the James, for by the 30th of June 
his advance had gained the river, his artillery and trains were 
parked in the rear of Malvern Hill, and communication had 
been opened with the gunboats. The entire Federal army was 
concentrated on the morning of the 1st of July, in a strong 
position, and ready to oppose the Confederates with a solid 
front. 

The task before General Lee was now to bring McClellan 
to a general battle, which should either annihilate his army, or 
secure its safe passage over the few miles which lay between it 
and the river. Magruder had been recalled from General 
Holmes' position, during the night of the 30th of June, and 
had been ordered to relieve the divisions of Longstreet and A. 



158 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

P. Hill after the close of the battle. On the morning of the 
1st, General Jackson was ordered to continue the pursuit down 
the Willis Church road, and soon afterwards he came in sight 
of the Federal position at Malvern Hill. 

General McCIellan had chosen his ground well. " The left 
and centre were posted on Malvern Hill, an elevated plateau 
about a mile and a half by three fourths of a mile in area ; the 
right was ' refused,' curving back through a wooded region 
towards a point below Haxall's Landing, on James River. 
Judging from the obvious lines of attack that the main effort 
would be made against his left, General McCIellan posted on 
Malvern Hill heavy masses of infantry and artillery. Porter's 
corps held the left, and the artillery of his two divisions, with 
the artillery reserve, gave a concentrated fire of sixty guns. 
Couch's division was placed on the right of Porter ; next came 
Kearney and Hooker ; next, Sedgwick and Richardson ; next, 
Smith and Slocum ; then the remainder of Keyes' corps, ex- 
tending by a backward curve nearly to the river." * Immedi- 
ately in front of this position the ground was open, varying in 
width from a quarter to half a mile, and sloping gradually from 
the crest, and was swept at eveiy point by the fire of the Fed- 
eral artillery and infantry. In order to reach this open ground, 
the Confederates had to pass through a broken and thickly 
wooded country, which was almost too swampy to be traversed, 
and which was commanded by the Federal batteries and the 
gunboats in the river. These kept up a constant fire, and all 
the movements of the Confederates had to be made under a 
heavy shower of shell. 

General Jackson formed his line at once — Whiting's division 
was on the left, and D. H. Hill's on the right, with one of 
E well's brigades covering the space between. The rest of 
Ewell's men and Jackson's division were held in reserve. Ma- 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 161. 



MALVERN HILL. 159 

gruder was placed on the right of D. H. Hill, with three brig- 
ades of Huger's division between Hill and himself, these brig- 
ades being under his command. Owing to the lack of infor- 
mation concerning the character of the country, it was near the 
close of the afternoon before the entire line was formed. Long- 
street and A. P. Hill were held in resei've, and took no part in 
the eno^as^ement. 

It was General Lee's order that a strong force of artillery 
should be brought up to silence the Federal batteries and shat- 
ter their infantry supports. As soon as this was accomplished, 
Armistead's brigade, of Huger's division, was to advance with 
a loud shout, at which signal the whole line was to sweep for- 
ward and carry the heights by storm. Owing to the nature of 
the ground the artillery could not be brought up in time, and 
the Confederates could oppose to the magnificent batteries of 
the Federals only eight or ten guns, which were soon disabled. 

About six o'clock General D. H. Hill heard on his right a 
loud shout, followed by heavy firing. This he supposed to be 
the signal agreed upon, and in this opinion he was sustained by 
all his brigade commanders. He at once threw forward his 
division. He made his attack gallantly, but had scarcely begun 
it before he discovered that he was not supported by any other 
division, and that he had been deceived in regard to the signal 
to advance. He was opposed to the entire army of the Fed- 
erals, who seeing his condition, threw their line forward upon 
him. In this critical situation he sent to General Jackson for 
reenforcements. Jackson at once advanced his whole reserve, 
but owing to the difficult character of the ground, and the rapid 
approach of night, the reenforcements did not reach Hill in 
time to assist him, and the gallant General after sufiering a 
heavy loss, and causing the Federals to pay dearly for their 
success, was compelled to retire from the open field.* During 
tiie remainder of the engagement Jackson's artillery kept up a 

♦ Gen. Jackson's Keport. 



160 LITE OF GENERAL LEE. 

steady fire upon the enemy, but his infantry made no further 
attempt to storm their position. 

As soon as General Magruder had formed his line, and dis- 
covered the great strength of the Federals, he directed his chief 
of artillery to bring up thirty pieces of rifled cannon, with 
which he hoped to open the way for a successful charge. These 
were not brought forward during the engagement. While 
awaiting the arrival of the guns, Magruder prepared his infan- 
try for the assault, and while thus engaged, received an order 
from General Lee to charge with his whole force as soon as he 
should hear Armistead's signal shout. Soon after this, he 
received another order directing him to advance his whole line 
rapidly, and follow up Armistead's success, "as the enemy were 
reported to be getting off." General Armistead had repulsed, 
driven back, and followed up a heavy body of the enemy's skir- 
mishers, and it was believed that this was a favorable moment 
for a decisive charge. 

Although General Magruder feared that the enemy's position 
was still too strong to be successfully assailed by infantry, he 
did not feel at liberty to disregard the positive instructions he 
had received, and at once made his preparations to advance. 
Several vigorous efforts were made to carry the heights by 
storm. The brigades advanced gallantly across the open field, 
their ranks torn and shattered by the showers of shell and 
Minnie bullets which swept through them. Some regiments 
were broken and driven back at once ; others pressed on and 
reached the batteries, but only to be thrown back with horrible 
slauo-hter. Thus the battle continued until nine o'clock at 
night, when the firing ceased. An eye-witness thus describes 
the attack of Magruder's men : — 

"Thirty-seven pieces of artillery, suppoi-ted at a greater 
distance by heavy and more numerous batteries, and by his 
gunboats, kept faithful ward over the enemy's position, and 



MALVERN HILL. 161 

ploughed through our columns even before they could see the 
enemy or deploy into line of battle. Undismayed by the most 
terrific cannonadhig of the war, the advance of jMagrudcr's 
forces commenced. Onward, in the face of a storm of shot and 
shell, they pressed forward, until within musket-range of tlie 
enemy, and then they opened their fire. Whole lines of the 
enemy fell as they stood, or, attempting to retreat, were over- 
taken by the bullets of our troops, who never veered in their 
aim or recoiled while the enemy's infantry remained in range ; 
and when forced back for a time by the avalanche of converging 
artillery, yet when the infimtry of the enemy ventured again 
beyond their batteries, our lines advanced with shout and bay- 
onet, and drove them back among the reserves and behind the 
wall of fire which flamed along the mouths of the circling; 
cannon. Thus the contest ebbed and flowed until night spread 
its mantle on the battle-field. The batteries of the enemy were 
not captured by assault, because no line of men could live in 
their converging fires, sweeping unobstructed the attacking 
forces for twelve hundred yards, but his line of infantry was 
repeatedly broken with frightful slaughter by the fierce charges 
of our troops, who held their position and slept on the field, 
within one hundred yards of the enemy's guns." 

During the night McCIellan withdrew his forces, and took 
the road to Harrison's Landino- and Westover. Althou2:h he 
had succeeded in repulsing the Confederate attacks, his army 
had suffered frightfully, so that it became an absolute necessity 
to withdraw, under the immediate protection of the gunboats. 
The attacks of the Confederates had been so fierce, and had 
caused such suffering in his ranks, that his army, already 
shaken by its terrible retreat and constant fighting, was in 
reality demoralized by this last blow, and so great was this 
demoralization that the Federal Commander was not willing to 
risk another encounter even in this strong position. 
21 



162 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

At sunrise the next morning the Federal lines were found to 
be deserted. The Federal dead and wounded were left on the 
field, as were also two pieces of artillery, which had been 
spiked, and a number of caissons, wagons, ambulances, and 
lar<Te quantities of medical, commissary, and ordnance stores. 
Large supplies of ammunition were thrown into the neighbor- 
ing ravines, and on all sides were to be seen evidences of a 
disorderly and precipitate retreat. 

The Confederate loss at Malvern Hill was five thousand and 
twenty-three. That of the enemy is not known, but is sup- 
posed to have been somewhat larger. 



xvni. 

THE END OF THE PURSUIT. 

Wednesday morning, July 2d, broke in the midst of a heavy 
rain, which continued throughout the day. The Federal army 
fell back rapidly to Harrison's Landing, which was reached in 
safety. From the evidence taken by the Committee on the 
Conduct of the War, in the Federal Congress, there can be no 
doubt that had General Lee pressed on after McClellan, the 
Northern army would have been ruined. It was in no condi- 
tion to withstand a new attack. 

General Lee, as soon as he found that McClellan had with- 
drawn from Malvern Hill, threw forward the cavalry, which 
had come up during the night of the first, in pursuit, and fol- 
lowed with his infantry. General Stuart pressed vigorously 
upon the Federal rear, constantly skirmishing with the rear- 
guard, and capturing prisoners. By reconnoitring the coun- 
try thoroughly, he found that the entire Federal force was 
collected on the river shore between Westover and Harrison's 



THE END OF THE PURSUIT. ,163 

Landing. He also learned that there was in the rear of the 
Federal position a plateau, known as Evelington's Heights, 
which completely commanded their camp. On the morning of 
the 3rd General Stuart continued his advance, and gained pos- 
session of the heights, driving off the single squadron which 
held them. As soon as he had learned the nature of this posi- 
tion on the previous evening, he had informed General Lee of 
it, sending the message through General Jackson, and he now 
held the ground, hoping that General Lee would send a column 
to relieve him. At the same time he opened one gun upon the 
enemy's camp below, producing great commotion in it. Gen- 
eral Stuart learned from prisoners taken, that the Federal force 
was much reduced and demoralized. General Lee was kept 
informed of these movements, and sent word to General Stuart 
that Jackson and Longstreet were on the march to support 
him. 

Stuart held the hill from nine in the morning until two in the 
afternoon, when he withdrew before a strong force of infantry 
and artillery which was advancing from the Federal camp. 
General Longstreet was led out of his route by an incompetent 
guide, and did not arrive until night, when his command halted 
at the line occupied by the cavalry, a short distance from the 
hill. During the night the enemy secured the plateau, and 
strengthened their position with earth works. 

The next day, July 4th, General Longstreet make a recon- 
noissance of the enemy's new position. They were found to 
occupy the plateau in strong force. Their position on the river 
was one of great natural strength. It was flanked on each side 
by a creek, and was defended by earthworks and the direct fire 
of the gunboats. In view of this, it was decided not to attack 
the enemy. 

The 5th, 6th, and 7th of July were spent in watching the 
enemy, and collecting the abandoned and captured property and 



164 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

stores wliicli were strewn over the battle-fields from Mechanics- 
ville to the James River. Much of the spoils was lost to the 
Government in consequence of the plundering of the battle- 
fields by the citizens of Richmond and the surrounding country. 

On the morning of the 5th, General Stuart was directed to 
take a battery of rifled guns, and proceed to some point on the 
river, below Westover, and annoy the Federal transports in 
their progress up the stream. He at once set out for Wilcox's 
Landinir, which he reached at dark. During the nicfht one 
transport was fired into, evidently without receiving much 
damage, as she kept on up the river. The next day two more 
guns were added to the battery, and the command moved to 
Wayne's Oak, lower down the river. During that night, and 
the next day, the 7th, several transports were fired into and 
seriously damaged. Two were abandoned by their crews, who 
made for the south bank of the river, in small boats, leaving 
one of the vessels sinking. The batteries were constantly 
subjected to the fire of the gunboats convoying the transports, 
but without receiving any damage. On the afternoon of the 
7th, the batteries returned to their camps, the men being 
greatly exhausted by their loss of rest, and constant exertion. 

On the afternoon of the 8th it was decided by General Lee 
to withdraw from the enemy's front, and return to the vicinity 
of Richmond. The movement was successfully executed, the 
cavalry preventing the Federals from detecting it. General Lee 
selected as his new position, a line extending from the James 
River at Chafin's Bluff, to the Chickahominy near Garnett's 
farm, and there prepared to await the future movements of the 
" Young Napoleon." 

Practically, the campaign was a success for the Confederates. 
The siege of Richmond was raised, the enemy driven from the 
strong positions which they had selected with so much care, 
and forced to destroy millions of dollars worth of stores and 



THE END OF THE PURSUIT. 165 

property. They had been driven over an extent of twenty-five 
miles, and compelled to undergo fearful sufferings which 
resulted in their demoralization. They owed their escape to 
the favorable nature of the country through which they moved, 
as well as to the great skill of their general. "Under ordinary 
circumstances they should have been destroyed," says General 
Lee, but they escaped. On the morning after the battle of 
Malvern Hill it was in General Lee's power to crush them, and 
even as late as the day Stuart occupied Evelington's Heights, a 
determined attack, or a vigorous cannonade from that quarter 
would have destroyed what there was of organization left to 
them. The latter portion of the Confederate pursuit, however, 
was too feeble and spiritless to accomplish anything, and the 
best opportunity Lee ever had for destroying the Army of the 
Potomac was suffered to pass unimproved. In the general joy 
at the forced retreat of McClellan from the Chickahominy, the 
Southern people Avere not disposed to find fault with their Gen- 
eral for not accomplishing more. They were satisfied with what 
was done. 

In the retreat from the Chickahominy General McClellan 
exhibited high qualities. It is true that his movements were 
greatly favored by the country he marched through, but to have 
brought his army off safely in the presence of a powerful and 
victorious foe, holding his ground whenever it was necessary to 
gain time, and always being enabled to present a steady front 
to the columns of his pursuers, was an achievement of which 
any general might well be proud, and which ought to have gone 
far to atone for the faults of his campaign. And surely the 
army that could, amidst such terrible suffering and disaster, 
always be ready to fight all night and march all day, bearing 
its reverses with unflinching courage, must meet, as it deserves, 
the hearty praise of both friend and foe. Yet in spite of this, 
the Federil Commander saw fit, on the 4th of July, to issue to 



166 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

his army an address better suited to a victorious than a defeated 
host. 

The Confederate loss, during the campaign, was heavy, em- 
bracing many officers of rank and several general officers killed 
and wounded. It was, as well as I can ascertain, about nine- 
teen thousand, five, hundred and thirty-three killed, wounded 
and missing.* 

The Federal loss in men was also very heavy. General 
McClellan reports it at one thousand, five hundred and eighty- 
two killed, seven thousand, seven hundred and nine wounded, 
and five thousand nine hundred and fifty-eight missing, making 
a total of fifteen thousand, two hundred and forty-nine. A 
careful research has convinced me that this number is too small. 
General Lee states that more than ten thousand prisoners were 
captured by his army, and from what I saw of them myself, I 
am convinced that the number is not exaggerated, so that, at 
the lowest, the Federal loss in killed, wounded, and missing, 
was over twenty thousand. Among the prisoners were several 
general officers. Fifty-two pieces of artillery and upwards of 
thirty-five thousand stand of small arms were captured. The 
stores and supplies of every description were great in amount 
and value, but small in comparison with those destroyed by the 
enemy, f 

* The returns of the vai'ious divisions of the Confederate Army are incom- 
plete. Jackson reports a total loss of five thousand, three hundred and eighty- 
three, including D. H. Hill's division. Longstreet reports' his loss at four 
thousand, four hundred and twenty-nine ; A. P. Hill reports his loss at three 
thousand, eight hundred and seventy ; Magruder reports liis at three thousand, 
three hundred; Holmes, his at eight hundred and fifty-one. I have been un- 
able to find any returns from Huger or Stuart. I have estimated the loss of 
the former at twelve hundred, which is, perhaps, too great, and that of the 
latter at five hundred. Huger was not so actively engaged as the other Ccm- 
manders, and did not lose so heavily. 

t General Lee's Keport. 



THE END OF THE PURSUIT. 167 

While in front of the Federal position on the James, General 
Lee issued the following address to his army : — 

" Headquarters in the Field, 
July 7, 1862. 
" GENERAL OEDER, 
No. 75. 

*' The General Commanding, profoundly grateful to the 
Giver of all victory for the signal success with which He has 
blessed our arms, tenders his warmest thanks and congratula- 
tions to the army by whose valor such splendid results have 
been achieved. 

'< On Thursday, June 26th, the powerful and thoroughly 
equipped army of the enemy was intrenched in works vast in 
extent and most formidable in character, within sight of our 
Capital. 

" To-day the remains of that confident and threatening host 
lie upon the banks of the James River, thirty miles from Rich- 
mond, seeking to recover, under the protection of his gun- 
boats, from the effects of a series of disastrous defeats. 

" The battle beginning on the afternoon of the 26th of June, 
above Mechanics ville, continued until the night of July 1st, 
with only such intervals as were necessary to pursue and over- 
take the flying foe. His strong intrenchments and obstinate 
resistance were overcome, and our army swept resistlessly down 
the north side of the Chickahominy, until it reached the rear 
of the enemy, and broke his communication with the York, 
capturing or causing the destruction of many valuable stores, 
and, by the decisive battle of Friday, forcing the enemy from 
his line of powerful fortifications on the South side of the 
Chickahominy, and driving him to a precipitate retreat. This 
victorious army pursued, as rapidly as the obstructions placed 
by the enemy in his rear would permit, three times overtaking 
his flying column, and as often driving him with slaughter froni 



168 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

the field, leavino- his numerous dead and wounded in our hands 
in every conflict. 

' ' The immediate fruits of our success are the relief of Rich- 
mond from a state of siege, the rout of the^. great army that so 
lono- menaced its safety, many thousand prisoners, including 
officers of high rank, the capture or destruction of stores to the 
value of millions, and the acquisition of thousands of arras, 
and fifty-one pieces of superior artillery. 

« ' The service rendered to the country in this short but 
eventful period can scarcely be estimated, and the General 
Commanding cannot adequately express his admiration of the 
courage, endurance, and soldierly conduct of the officers and 
men eno-aged. 

« ' These brilliant results have cost us many brave men ; but 
Avhile we mourn the loss of our gallant dead, let us not forget 
that they died nobly in defence of their country's freedom, and 
have linked their memory with an event that will live forever in 
the hearts of a grateful people. 

" Soldiers ! your country will thank you for the heroic con- 
duct you have displayed, — conduct worthy of men engaged in 
a cause so just and sacred, and deserving a nation's gratitude 

and praise. 

" By command of General Lee. 

"R. H. Chilton, A. A. General." 

President Davis, who had been upon the field constantly 
during the six days, and had witnessed the conduct of the 
army, tendered to it the thanks of the country in the following 
address : — 

"EiCHMOND, July 5, 1862. 
•'To THE Army in Eastern Virginia. 

•' Soldiers : I congratulate you on the series of brilliant victo- 
ries which, under the favor of Divine Providence, you have 



THE END OF THE PURSUIT. 169 

lately won ; and, as the President of the Confederate States, do 
heartily tender to you the thanks of the country whose just 
cause you have so skilfidly and heroically served. Ten days 
ago an invading army, greatly superior to you in numbers and 
in the material of war, closely beleaguered your Capital and 
vauntingly proclaimed its speedy conquest ; you marched to 
attack the enemy in his intrenchments ; with well-directed 
movements and death-defying valor you charged upon him in 
his strong positions, drove him from field to field over a dis- 
tance of more than thirty-five miles, and, despite his reenforce- 
ments, compelled him to seek safety under cover of his gun- 
boats, where he now lies cowering before the army so lately 
derided and threatened with entire subjugation. The fortitude 
with which you have borne toil and privation, the gallantry 
with which you have entered into each successive battle, must 
have been witnessed to be fully appreciated ; but a grateful 
people will not fail to recognize your deeds and to bear you in 
loved remembrance. Well may it be said of you that you 
have ' done enough for glory,' but duty to a suffering country 
and to the cause of constitutional liberty claims from you yet 
further effort. Let it be your pride to relax in nothing which 
can promote your future efficiency — your one great object 
being to drive the invader from your soil, and carrying your 
standards beyond the outer boundaries of the Confederacy, to 
wring from an unscrupulous foe the recognition of your birth- 
rig;ht — community independence. 

(Signed) Jefferson Davis." 

23 



170 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 



XIX. 

THE CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN. 

Those who study this campaign fx'om a military point of 
view, will agree with me that the danger which threatened 
Richmond was far greater with McClellan on the James River 
than it was while he remained on the Chickahominy. In his 
present position the Federal commander was always assured of 
the safety of his left flank which rested on the river, while he 
was enabled to receive in his future movements the active coop- 
eration of his fleet. It was not possible for the Confederates to 
drive him away now, and should he determine to make another 
attempt to capture Richmond, it would be found diflicult if not 
impossible to defeat him. It was also within his power to cross 
the James, and attack Petersburg, the capture of which would 
compel the evacuation of Richmond. He could also prevent 
the movement of any considerable body of the Confederate 
army northward, and was really in a position to do far better 
service for his Government than he could possibly perform 
elsewhere. He had saved from his army eighty-five thousand 
men, and over one hundred and fifty pieces of cannon. It was 
in the power of his Government to double this number within a 
few weeks, and this would have been its wisest policy, for it 
would have effectually prevented the disasters which subse- 
quently befell it in Northern Virginia. 

General ISIcCIellan urged the Federal authorities to reenforce 
him to their utmost ability, and forcibly pointed out to them the 
advantages which would result from such a course. Rising 
above his misfortunes, and fully comprehending the grand 
opportunity before him, he formed the bold plan of crossing to 



THE CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN. 171 

the south side of the James, and attacking Petersburg. He 
communicated this plan to the Federal Commanding General, 
Major-General Halleck, while that officer was on a visit to the 
headquarters of the Army of the Potomac, towards the last of 
July, but General Halleck, who enjoyed one of those cheap 
military reputations of which the war aflPorded so many 
instances, regarded the plan as dangerous and impracticable,* 
and went back to Washington to oppose it. Immediately the ' 
Government withdrew what little support it had previously given 
to the plan, and declined to reenforce General McClellan. Burn- 
side's corps, which was at Fortress Monroe, waiting to be sent 
to him, was ordered to the Potomac, and soon events in another 
quarter caused McClellan and his army to be almost forgotten. 
Nevertheless, General McClellan was right, and the best proof 
of the soundness of his views is the success which attended this 
identical plan when executed by General Grant in 1864 and 
1865. 

General Lee was very anxious that McClellan should with- 
draw from the James river, for he fully understood what lay 
within the power of the Federal commander should he feel 
strong enough to attempt it. In order to watch the enemy, 
and guard that part of the country General D. H. Hill's division 
was sent to the south side of the James. 

The corps of General Jackson was now detached from the 
army, and sent to Gordonsville, to meet the advance of the 
enemy in that quarter, and was soon followed by the division 
of A. P. Hill. 

At the same time, " in order to keep McClellan stationary, 
or, if possible, to cause him to withdraw," General Lee sent a 
force of forty-three guns to Coggin's Point, immediately opposite 
Harrison's Landing, to open fire on the Federal camp and ship- 
ping. The expedition reached the appointed place at nightfall 

♦Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac — pp. 167, 168. 



172 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

on the 31st of July. The guns were at once placed in posi- 
tion. The Federal shipping lay within a mile of the Southern 
shore, and immediately back of the vessels was a large encamp- 
ment. The glittering lights on shipboard and on the shore 
afforded a clear mark for the gunners, and the fleet and camp 
of the enemy lay in profound silence, unconscious of the danger 
which threatened them. 

Half an hour after midnight, the stillness of the scene was 
broken by the simultaneous reports of the forty-three cannon,^ 
and, the action once opened, the Confederates continued to fire^P' 
rapidly. " From the screams, scenes of wild confusion must 
have followed, as sailors rushed on the decks of their vessels, 
and soldiers fled from their tents in midnight darkness, amidst 
bursting shells, falling fast around them. The gunboats soon 
returned the fire, and in about fifteen or twenty minutes a rapid 
fire was opened on the Confederates from the Federal land 
batteries, but without any damage, many of the shots passing 
over the whole length of the point or peninsula. The red glare 
of the fire of so many guns and exploding shells, on such a 
night, is seldom witnessed. Gradually the firing on the part of 
the Confederates ceased, and the guns were withdrawn under a 
heavy fire."* The number of rounds for the guns was limited 
to about one thousand in all. 

The enemy were badly frightened, but they sustained no 
material damage. The next day General McClellan sent a 
force across the river, and occupied Coggin's Point, after which 
he was not troubled again by such nocturnal visitors. The 
Southern loss was one man killed, and two wounded. 

Toward the last of July, a raiding party of cavalry from 
General Pope's army in Northern Virginia, destroyed a part of 
the Central Railroad at Beaver Dam Station, in order to cut 
Jackson's communication with Richmond. The damage they 

♦Report of Brig. Gen. S. G. French. 



THE CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN. 173 

inflated was slight, but, in order to put a stop to this, General 
Stuart was directed to move from Hanover Court House, where 
the cavalry were encamped, towards Fredericksburg. He was 
delayed by high water until the 4th of August, when he ad- 
vanced, with Fitzhugh Lee's brigade and the Stuart Horse 
Artillery, upon Port Royal. He reached that town on the 5th, 
and at once moved towards Fredericksburg. The next day he 
came into the telegraph road, at Massaponax Church, just 
after two brigades of Federal cavalry had passed by towards the 
Central Railroad. Stuart at once attacked them so vigorously 
that they returned in haste to Fredericksburg, losing eighty 
prisoners and a number of wagons. Stuart then retu-ed, hav- 
ing lost only two men.* 

On the 5th of August, the Federals occupied Malvern Hill 
in force, taking up the same positions they had held during the 
battle of July 1st. The divisions of Longstreet and McLaws, 
and that commanded by Ripley at once moved down the Long 
Bridge road, and, upon reaching Malvern Plill, discovered the 
Federals in great force in their old lines. 

General Lee formed his army with McLaws on the left, 
then Ripley, then D. R. Jones, who had now come up, and 
with Longstreet on the right. The left was ordered to advance 
to Willis' Church, and threaten the communication with West- 
over, by extending well to the left, and Longstreet was directed 
to move on Malvern Hill, and drive the enemy from their po- 
sition on Curl's Neck. This was promptly done, and the Fed- 
erals were driven back to their guns on Malvern Hill. 

It was now too dark to attempt any further movements, and 
the army bivouacked for the night. The next morning it was 
found that the enemy had retreated to Westover. The picket 
lines wei'e reestablished, and the Confederates returned to their 
former positions. 

*Gen. Lee's Keport. 



174 LIFE OF GENERAIi LEE. 

This movement was the last made by McClellan previous to 
his withdrawal from the Peninsula. The reasons which caused 
the abandonment of the campaign by the Array of the Potomac 
will be discussed in another part of this work. Here I can 
only mention the fact. The evacuation of Harrison's Landing 
was commenced on the 16th, a part of the army and the stores 
being sent off by water, and the remainder taking the route 
down the Peninsula to Yorktown and Fortress Monroe, and by 
the 18 th the rear-guard had crossed the Chickahominy. 

As soon as he was satisfied that McClellan was withdrawing 
from the James River, General Lee put his army in motion for 
General Jackson's position on the Rapidan, where it arrived 
about the fifteenth of August. 



V-^-" 






^ 



--A. 




/.<^t^ 



GENERAL POPE IN VIRGINIA. 175 



lY. 
THE CxiMPAIG]^ IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. 

August, 1862. 



I. 

GENERAL POPE IN VIRGINIA. 

The doubt in which the Federal authorities were left by the 
disappearance of General Jackson's army from the Valley of 
Virginia, was decided by the sudden and fatal blow which he 
struck their army at Cold Harbor. He was no longer in a 
position to threaten Washington, but he had produced such a 
wholesome dread of his sudden movements that President Lin- 
coln and his military advisers resolved to retain a large force 
between Washington and the Rappahannock. Accordingly the 
commands of Fremont and Banks were moved east of the 
mountains, and together with McDowell's corps were consoli- 
dated into one command, numbering in all about sixty thousand 
men, under the name of the " Ai-my of Virginia." 

The command of this army was conferred upon Major-Gen- 
eral John Pope, who had been one of General Halleck's divis- 
ion commanders in the West, where he had distinguished him- 
self by the paper victories he had won over imaginary enemies. 
He had been selected by General Halleck to seize the prize 
which had thus far eluded the grasp of the '* Young Napoleon." 



176 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

He was a queer compound of ordinary good sense, and the 
most eo-re'T-ious folly. As a subordinate commander, under an 
able leader, he might have achieved considerable success, for 
he had an abundance of energy, but he was totally unfit for the 
chief command of an independent army. Nevertheless the 
Federal Government professed to see in him an undeveloped 
Napoleon. He began his career in the East by regretting that 
he had never had an opportunity to end the war, and pompous- 
ly declaring to the Committee on the conduct of the war that if 
he could have such an army as McClellan's, he would march 
from Washington to New Orleans in triumph.* 

Impressed by the preposterous assertions of General Pope, 
the Federal Government assigned him to the command of the 
new army on the 25th of June 1862, the day before the battle 
of Cold Harbor, with the distinct understanding that, although 
his first duty was to cover Washington, his campaign was to 
result in the capture of Richmond by an overland advance, f 

The defeat, of the Army of the Potomac following imme- 
diately, plunged the North into the deei)est gloom, and the 
enemies of General McClellan, headed by General Halleck and 
Secretary Stanton, forgetting, or ignoring the great service he 
had rendered his country in averting the greater disasters which 
would have befallen his army but for his skill and energy, set 
to work to efiTect his ruin. So bitter was the war waged upon 
him that they were willing to sacrifice the advantages of the 
line of the James River in order to wreak their vengeance upon 
him. Doubtless one cause of their hostility to him was the fact 
that he wished to conduct the war upon humane and enlight- 

* " Question. Suppose you had the army that was here on the first day of 
March last, do you suppose you would find any obstacle to prevent your 
marching from here to New Orleans ? 

'^ Pope. I should suppose not." Keport on the Conduct of the War. Vol. 
i. p. 282. ■.; 

t Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 109. 



GENERAL POPE IN VIRGINIA. 177 

cued principles, while they were anxious to visit upon the 
South the full measure of their bitter hatred. They found a 
congenial spirit in General Pope, and forthwith set to work to 
induce the President to order McClellan to withdraw from the 
Peninsula and unite his army with that of General Pope. 

Mr. Lincoln was really anxious that General McClellan 
should have his own way, but he was no soldier, and was sur- 
rounded by men who, though trusted by him, were hostile to 
the commander of his best army, foremost among whom was 
that military wonder, Major-General Pope, and it is not strange 
that he should have consented to withdraw McClellan. On the 
od of August he directed General McClellan to withdraw his 
army from the Peninsula to Aquia Creek, there to make a 
junction with Mnjor-General Pope. 

Had Mr. Lincoln known what he was doing, he might have 
hesitated. In withdrawing McClellan he was doing exactly 
what General Lee wanted him to do, and at the same time 
extinguishing his last chance for tlie speedy ending of the war. 
But I must not anticipate events. 

About this time the measures of the Federal Government 
were marked by more vigor than ever. In the West and 
South they had opened the entire Mississippi River, except at 
Vicksburg. New Orleans and Memphis were in their possct^- 
sion, and the Western army, under General Beauregard, had 
fallen back from Corinth to Tupelo. The defeat of McClellan 
somewhat dashed the hopes which these successes had raised, 
and the efforts of his enemies struck a harder blow at the cause 
of the Union than had been dealt by the Confederates at any 
point between the Chickahominy and the James. Instead of 
despairing, however. President Lincoln called for three hundred 
thousand additional troops, and enormous bounties were offered 
to secure them ; the quotas of the States were ordered to be 
raised by drafting ; the Congress passed a bill confiscating the 
23 



178 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

slaves of all persons adhering to the Southern cause. Another 
law authorized the enrolment of negro troops ; another author- 
ized the military commanders of the Union to seize and use any 
property, real or personal, belonging to Southern sympathizers, 
" necessary or convenient for their commands," without com- 
pensation to the owners. The Southern States were thus 
placed beyond the pale of the law of nations, and the barbarous 
programme of the Radicals was inaugurated. 

Before setting out for the headquarters of the army, General 
Pope issued an address to his troops, which is so characteristic 
that I cannot refrain from presenting it here. It is as fol- 
lows : — 

" Washington, July 14, 1862. 
" To THE Officers and Soldiers op the Army op Virginia : — 

' ' By special assignment of the President of the United 
States, I have assumed command of this army. 

"I have spent two weeks in learning your whereabouts, 
your condition, and your wants ; in preparing you for active 
operations, and in placing you in positions from which you can 
act promptly and to the purpose. 

" J have come from the West, where ive have always seen the 
backs of our enemies, — from an army whose business it has been to 
seek the adversary, and to beat him when found, — whose policy 
has been attack, and not defence. 

" In but one instance has the enemy been able to place our 
Western army in a defensive attitude. 

^^ I pres2ime (hat I have been called here to pursue the same 
system, and to lead you against the enemy. It is my purpose to 
do so, and that speedily. I am sure you long for an opportu- 
nity to win the distinction you are capable of achieving. That 
opportunity I shall endeavor to give you. 

" Meantime, I desire you to dismiss from your minds certain 
phrases which I am sorry to find much in vogue amongst you. 



GENERAL POPE TN VIRGINIA. 179 

*' I constantly hear of taking strong positions and holding them 
— of lines of retreat and bases of supplies. Let us dismiss such 
ideas. The strongest 2)osilion a soldier should desire to occupy is 
one from which he can most easily advance against the enemy. 

" Let us study the probable lines of retreat of our opponents, and 
leave our own to take care of themselves. Let us look hrforc and 
not behind. Success and glory are in the advance. Disaster and 
shame lurk in the rear. Let us act on this 7tnde)'sta7idins^, and it 
is safe to predict that your banners shall be inscribed with many a 
glorious deed, and that your names will be dear to your countrymen 
forever. 

"John Pope, Major- General Commanding.''^ * 

The arrival of General Pope's Army in Northern Virginia 
was the signal for the inauguration of a policy which will ever 
be famous for its barbarity and brutality — a policy directly in 
accordance with the measures of the Federal Government which 
I have already noticed. General Pope issued a series of Gen- 
eral Orders which will not be soon forgotten in Virginia. The 
first directed the seizure of the property of Southern sympa- 
thizers.! Another declared his purpose to hold unoffending 

* The italics in the above address are my own. 
t This order was as follows : 

" Headquarters acmy of ViRcnfiA, 

Washington, July 18, 1862. 

" GENERAL OEDEB, 
K0.5. 

•' Hereafter, as far as practicable, the troops of this comiiiaud will subsist 
upon the country in which their operations are carried on. In all cases sup- 
plies for this purpose will be taken by the oflScers to whose department they 
properly belong, under the orders of the commanding officers of the troops for 
whose use they are intended. Vouchers will be given to the owners, stating 
on their face that they will be payable at the conclusion of the war, upon suffi- 
cient testimony being furnished that such owners have been loyal citizens of 
the United States since the date of the vouchers. Whenever it is known that 
supplies can be furnished in any district of the country where the troops are 



180 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

citizens responsible for the conduct of the Southern troops. 
Feelino" some doubt as to the safety of his communications, as 
well as that of the troops left to protect them, he bethought 
himself of the measures which are announced in the following 
order : 

'' Hbadquaetebs Army of Virginia, 
Washington, July 18, 1862. 

'GENERAL ORDER, 
No. 7. 

' ' The people of the Valley of the Shenandoah and through- 
out the region of operations of this army, living along the lines 
of railroad and telegraph and along the routes of travel in tht 
rear of the United States forces, are notified that they will be 
held responsible for any injury done the track, line, or road, or 
for any attacks upon trains or straggling soldiers, by bands of 
guerillas in their neighborhood. 

" No privileges or immunities of war can apply to lawless 
bands of individuals, not forming part of the organized forces 
of the enemy, nor wearing the garb of soldiers, who, seeking 
and obtaining safety on the pretext of being peaceful citizens, 
steal out in the rear of the army, attack and murder straggling 
soldiers, molest trains of supplies, destroy railroads, telegraph 
lines, and bridges, and commit outrages disgraceful to civilized 
people and revolting to humanity. 

" Evil-disposed persons in the rear of our armies, who do 
not themselves engage directly in these lawless acts, encourage 
them by refusing to interfere, or to give any information by 
which such acts can be prevented or the perpetrators punished. 
Safety of the life and property of all persons living in the rear 

to operate, the use of trains for carrying subsistence will be dispensed with aa 
far as possible. 

By Command of Major- General Pope. 
Georob D. Ruggles, Colonel, A. A, 0. and Chief of Staff." 



GENERAL POPE IN VIRGINIA. 181 

of our advancing army depend upon the maintenance of peace 
and quiet among themselves and upon the unmolested move- 
ments through their midst of all pertaining to the military 
service. They arc understood distinctly that the security of 
travel is their only warrant of personal safety. 

*' It is, therefore, ordered that whenever a railroad, wagon 
road, or telegraph, is injured by parties of guerillas, the citi- 
zens living within five miles of the spot shall be turned out en 
masse to repair the damage, and shall, beside, pay to the United 
States, in money or in property, to be levied by military force, 
the full amount of the pay and subsistence of the wliole force 
necessary to coerce the performance of the work during the 
time occupied in completing it. 

*' If a soldier or legitimate follower of the army be fired 
upon from any house, the house shall be razed to the ground, 
and the inhabitants sent prisoners to the headquarters of this 
army. If such an outrage occur at any place distant from set- 
tlements the people within five miles around shall be held 
accountable, and made to pay an indemnity sufficient for the 
case. Any persons detected in such outrages, either during 
the act or at any time afterward, shall be shot without waiting 
civil process. No such acts can influence the result of this war, 
and they can only lead to heavy affliction to the population to 
no purpose. 

"It is therefore enjoined upon all persons, both for the 
security of their property and the safety of their own persons, 
that they act vigorously and cordially together to prevent the 
pei*petration of such outrages. Whilst it is the wish of the 
General commanding this army that all peaceably disposed 
persons who remain at their homes and pursue their accustomed 
avocations shall be subjected to no improper burthen of war, 
yet their own safety must of necessity depend upon the strict 
preservation of peace and order among themselves. And they 



182 LIFE OF GENEEAL LEE. 

are to understand that nothing will deter him from enforcing 
promptly and to the full extent every provision of this order. 
"By command of Major-General Pope. 

"George D. Ruggles, 
Colonel A. A. G. and Chief of Staff." 

These orders, brutal as they were, were followed by one 
from Brigadier General Steinwehr, who quickly proceeded to 
the execution of the duty entrusted to him. This order is as 
follows : — 

" IIeadquarteks 2d Divsion, 
Green's Farm, July 13, 1862. 
" SPECIAL ORDER, 
No. 6. 

" Major William Steadraan, commanding 6th Regiment Ohio 
Volunteer cavalry will cause the arrest of (5) of the most 
prominent citizens in Luray, Page county, Virginia, and, send 
them to these headquarters with an escort as hostages. They 
will be held as long as we remain in this vicinity. They 
will share my table and be treated as friends ; but, for every 
one of our soldiers who may be shot by ' bushwackers,' one 
of these hostages Avill suffer death, unless the perpetrators of 
the deed are delivered to me. It is well known that these so- 
called ' bushwackers ' are inhabitants of the district, and en- 
couraged in their cowardly acts by the prominent citizens here. 

" You will leave a copy of this order with the family of each 
man arrested by you. 

A. Steinwehr, 
Brig. Gen. Commanding 2d Division." 

Had the facts been as General Pope stated them, there 
might, perhaps, have been some excuse for these extreme meas- 
ures. They were, however, greatly exaggerated by him. The 
persons attacking his soldiers and cutting his railroads were 



GENERAL POPE IN VIRGINIA. 183 

troops regularly mustered into the Confederate service, and 
acting under the orders of the Confederate Government. The 
roads were cut, and the Federal soldiers shot in fair and legiti- 
mate warfare, and the charges of murder and other crimes 
brought against the Confederates by General Pope, are wholly 
without foundation. The truth is, that he hoped to overawe 
and terrify the Virginians into submission, and was simply 
carrying out the barbarous programme of the Radicals, whose 
military leader he was. The honest soul of General McClellan 
would have shrur.k from such acts. 

General Pope, hnwever, was not satisfied with this. In 
order to place his yok-^ still more effectually upon the people of 
Virginia he issued the fcHowing, which is generally known as 
his " Expatriation Order.'* 

Headquarteks Akmt of VraciNiA, 
July 23d, 1862. 
'GENERAL ORDER, 
No. 11. 

'■ Commanders of army corps, divisions, brigades, and de- 
tached commands, will proceed Immediately to arrest all disloyal 
male citizens within their lines, or within their reach in rear of 
their respective commands. Such as are willing to take the 
oath of allegiance to the United States, and will furnish sufficient 
security for Its observance, shall be permitted to remain at their 
homes, and pursue in good faith their accustomed avocations. 
Those who refuse shall be conducted South, beyond the extreme 
pickets of this army, and be notified that If found again any- 
where within our lines, or at any point in rear, they will be 
considered spies and subjected to the extreme rigor of military 
law. If any person having taken the oath of allegiance, as 
above specified, be found to have violated it, he shall be shot, 
and his property seized and applied to the public use. 

" All communication with any person whatever living within 



184 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

the lines of the enemy Is positively prohibited, except through 
the military authorities and in the manner specified by military 
law ; and any person concerned In writing or in carrying letter-' 
or raessao-es in any other way will be considered and treated as 
a spy within the lines of the United States army. 
" By command of Major-General Pope. 

"Geo. D. Kuggles, Col. and Chief of Staff. "^ 

This order caused the greatest dismay among the citizens. 
In the condition of the South at that time, banishment from 
their homes meant to be consigned to the greatest suffering, 
perhaps to starvation, and the alternative of taking an oath to 
support the Government of the United States was something 
from which they shrank with horror. The people of the village 
of Little Washington, In Rappahannock County, whei'e Gen- 
eral Pope's headquarters were at that time located, appointed 
a committee to wait upon General Pope, and request him to 
rescind his order. The committee were granted an Interview, 
and Doctor Bisphaw, laid before the General the petition of the 
people. He described to him the terrible suffering which 
would be brought upon the country by the execution of this 
order, and informed him that one of Its effects would be to 
place at least six new regiments in the Southern army. " We. 
can't take the oath of allegiance," said the Doctor, " and we 
won't — man, woman, or child, — but we will give a parole to 
attend to our own business, afford no communication with the 
Soutii, and quietly stay upon our premises." 

" I shall enforce the order to the letter," said General Pope. 
" I did not make it without deliberation, and If you don't take 
the oath you shall go out of my lines." 

Encouraged by the orders of their commander, the Federal 
troops were quick to Inflict suffering and loss upon the citizens. 
Some idea may be formed of their conduct from the following 



GENERAL POPE IN VIRGINIA. 185 

letter of the Correspondent of the <'New York World," Avrit- 
ten from Culpepper Court House, July 31st. 

' ' The Army of Virginia has undergone a marked change In a 
very important particular. The new usage which has been 
instituted in regard to protection of Confederate property and 
the purpose of the Government to subsist the army as far as 
practicable upon the enemy's country, lias produced a decided 
revolution in the feelings and practices of the soldiery, and one 
which seems to me very much to be regretted. 

" Unless these innovations are guarded by far more stringent 
safeguards against irregular and unauthorized plundering, we 
shall let loose upon the country at the close of the war, a tor- 
rent of unbridled and unscrupulous robbers. Rapid strides 
toward villany have been made during the last few weeks. 
Men who at home would have shuddered at the suggestion of 
touching another's property, now appropriate remorselessly 
whatever comes in their reach. Thieving, they imagine, has 
now become an authorized practice, and, under the show of 
subsisting themselves, chickens, turkeys, hams, and corn, have 
become a lawful plunder, with little discrimination as to the 
character or circumstances of the original owner. 

" In a state of society where civil law has been laid aside, 
and military power exercises but an irregular and partial sway, 
men's consciences are not remarkably sensitive. Restraints 
innumerable control the propensities of men at home, which 
here at the wars are entirely inactive, and a very mild opiate is 
sufficient to give quietude to the conscience of many a soldier 
when a chicken, pig, ham or other luxury tempts his gustator- 
ies. Tliese new orders seem to be just that opiate, and they 
have carried many a hitherto honest man over the dam, and 
made those who were before somewhat predatory in their hab- 
its, open, unblushing rascals. 

" It is to me a very serious and unfortunate state of facts 
24 



186 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

when soldiers will rush in crowds upon the smoke-house of a 
farmer, and each quarrel with the other to get the first and 
greatest share. I blush when I state that on the march through 
a section of country, every spring-house is broken open, and 
butter, milk, eggs and cream are engulphed, almost before the 
place is reached by the men. Calves and sheep, and, in fact, 
anything and everything serviceable for meat or drink, or ap- 
j^arel, are not safe a moment after the approach of the army. 
Even things apparently useless are snatched up, because, it 
would seem, many men love to steal. 

" At a place where I not long ago spent a night, scarcely an 
article to which the fertility of a soldier could suggest the 
slightest use remained to the owner upon the following morning. 
There had been soldiers there, you might wager. Pans, ket- 
tles, dishcloths, pork, poultry, provisions, and everything desir- 
able had disappeared. The place was stript, and without any 
process of commissary or quartermaster. So it has been in 
innumerable instances. Many a family incapable of sustaining 
the slightest loss has been deprived of all. 

" I not lono; ago saw a dozen soldiers rushino; headlon^j 
through a field, each anxious to get the first choice of three 
horses shading themselves quietly under a tree. The animals 
made their best time into the farthest corner of the field with 
the men close upon them ; and the foremost ones caught their 
prizes and bridled them as if they had a perfect immunity in 
such sort of things. A scene followed. A young lady came 
out and besought the soldiers not to take her favorite pony. 
The soldiers were remorseless and unyielding, and the pony is 
now in the army. 

" I know a case where a family were just seating themselves 
to supper. Soldiers came that way, and going in, swallowed 
everything. That was not all, but whatever in doors and out 
of doors the soldiers wanted was readily appropriated, and the 



GENERAL POPE IN VIRGINIA. 187 

proprietor of the place told me sorrowfully that they had ruined 
him — he never could now get out of debt. I hardly regretted 
his misfortune so much, on his account as for the influence of 
this thieving upon the soldiers. I was really gratified to hear 
his little boy say, " Pap says he wouldn't vote the secession 
ticket again if he had the chance." His patriotism was evi- 
dently drawing too heavily upon his fortunes, and I was rejoiced 
to find him in an inquiring state of mind. But unless a check 
is given to this promiscuous and unauthorized plundering, the 
discipline and value of the army will be destroyed ; and when 
the enlistments have expired, we shall let loose a den of thieves 
upon the country. 

' ' One favorite form in which this will exhibit itself is in the 
passing of Philadelphia Confederate notes. Whenever we 
advance into a new section, the floodgates are immediately 
opened, and the fac-sim'ile Confederate notes are poured out 
upon the land. They pass readily, and seem to be taken gladly 
for whatever is held for sale. Bank notes and shinplasters are 
given for change. Horses and other valuable property are 
often purchased with tliis bogus currency. A party of soldiers 
entered a store, not long since, fortified with exhaustless quanti- 
ties of V's and X's, and commenced trade. Forty pounds of 
sugar was first ordered, and the storekeeper, pleased with the 
sudden increase of business, called in his wife to assist in put- 
ting up the sweetness in small parcels. Seventy-five cents a 
pound was the cost. That was a small matter. Matches were 
purchased. Twenty-five cents per box was the charge. To- 
bacco also found a ready market. Each man provided himself 
with a straw hat ; but the crowning act of all was the abstrac- 
tion from the till of money already paid to the dealer for his 
goods, and the purchase of more goods with the same spurious 
medium. 



188 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

" Various arguments are used to justify this practice. They 
may not be such as would pacify a sensitive conscience, but 
they are made to answer in want of better ones. The genuine 
Confederate money, they say, payable six months after a treaty 
of peace with the United States, is entirely worthless, and the 
spurious can be no less so. Then some contend that to depre- 
ciate the enemy's currency by any means is one of the wrongs 
which war makes right, and the more it is done the more the 
cause is helped. Still others think that the more injury is done 
to Confederates in any way, the sooner the rebellion will be 
crushed. ' They (the Confederates) must begin to feel it in 
their pockets,' is a fovorite phrase. And so these practices are 
going on until, I believe, if it is not checked, we shall unfit the 
men to be soldiers now or citizens hereafter. Such has been 
the influence of these new orders, — this new way of dealing 
with the Confederates. The Government has decided to subsist 
the army from the enemy's country, and to give no safeguards to 
disloyal people. The soldiers conclude that they are individ- 
ually to take whatever subsistence they can lay hands upon, and 
disregard all the rights of private citizens." 

General Pope afterwards declared that these things were 
unauthorized by him. I have shown, even at the risk of being 
tedious, that they were the consequences of his orders. I shall 
now show that he took care to remove the only obstacle that lay 
in the way of his men in committing these outrages. Some of 
his subordinates, more humane than himself, placed guards 
over private property, to save the unoffending owners from loss. 
When this was reported to General Pope, he put a stop to it, 
and left the people at the mercy of the plunderers. The fol- 
io winar is his order to this effect : — 



GENERAL POPE IN VIRGINIA. 189 

*' Headquartebs Akmy of Virginia, 
Washington, July 25. 

" GENERAL ORDER, 
No. 13. 

' ' Hereafter no guard will be placed over private houses or 
private property of any description whatever. Only command- 
ing officers are responsible for the conduct of the troops under 
their command, and the articles of war and the regulations of 
the army provide ample means for restraining thera to the full 
extent required for discipline and efficiency. Soldiers were 
called into the field to do battle against the enemy, and it is 
not expected that their force and energy shall be wasted in pro- 
tecting private property of those most hostile to the Govern- 
ment. No soldier serving in this army shall be hereafter 
employed on such service. 

'< By command of jVIajor-General Pope. 

(Signed) Geo. D. Ruggles, 

Col. A. A. G. and Chief of Staff. "^ 

So infamous were the outrages of the Federal commander 
and his army, that it became necessary for the Confederates to 
adopt decisive measures to check them. There was but one 
course to pursue, — to execute the stern law of " eye for eye, 
tooth for tooth, life for life." This alone could remedy the 
evil, and for this reason the Confederate Government resolved 
upon retaliating upon the enemy the sufferings inflicted by 
them upon the helpless citizens within their lines. Yet, with a 
noble moderation, the South refrained from proceeding at once 
to execute its threats, hoping that the avowal of its purpose 
would cause a change in the policy of the Federals. Accord- 
ingly, on the 1st of August, General Lee was ordered by 
President Davis to communicate to the Federal Commander-in- 
Chief, the following order of retaliation : — 



190 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

"Adjutant and Inspector-General's Office. 
Richmond, August 1, 1862. 

" GENERAL ORDERS. 

No 54. 

"I. The following orders are published for the information 
and observance of all concerned : 

" II. Whereas, by a General Order, dated the 22nd of July, 
1862, issued by the Secretary of War of the United States, 
under the order of the President of the United States, the mil- 
itary commanders of that Government, within the States of Vir- 
ginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, 
Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas, are directed to seize and use 
any property, real or personal, belonging to the inhabitants of 
this Confederacy which may be necessary or convenient for 
their several commands, and no provision is made for any com- 
pensation to the owners of private property thus seized and 
appropriated by the military commanders of the enemy ; 

" III. And ivhereas, by General Order No. 11, issued on 
the 23d July, 1862, by Major-General Pope commanding the 
forces of the enemy in Northern Virginia, it is ordered that 
' all commanders of any army corps, divisions, brigades, and 
detached commands, will proceed immediately to arrest all dis- 
loyal male citizens within their lines or within their reach in 
rear of their respective commands. Such as are willing to take 
the oath of allegiance to the United States, and will furnish 
sufficient security for its observance, shall be permitted to re- 
main at their homes and pursue in good faith their accustomed 
avocations. Those who refuse shall be conducted South, be- 
yond the extreme pickets of this army, and be notified that, if 
found again anywhere within our lines, or at any point in rear, 
they will be considered spies and subjected to the extreme rigor 
of military law. If any person having taken the oath of alle- 
giance as above specified be found to have violated it, he shall 
be shot, and his property seized and applied to the public use ;' 



GENERAL POPE IN VIRGINIA. 191 

"IV. And whereas, by an order issued on the 13th July, 
1862, by Brigadier-General A. Steinwehr, Major William 
Steadinan, a cavalry officer of his brigade, has been ordered to 
arrest five of the most prominent citizens of Page county, Vir- 
ginia, to be held as hostages, and to suffer death in the event of 
any of the soldiers of said Steinwehr being shot by ' bush- 
whackers,* by which term are meant the citizens of this Con- 
federacy who have taken up arms to defend their homes and 
families ; 

" V. And whereas, it results from the above orders that 
some of the military authorities of the United States, not con- 
tent with the unjust and aggressive warfare hitherto waged with 
savage cruelty against an unoiFending people, and exasperated 
by the failure of their effort to subjugate them, have now deter- 
mined to violate all the rules and usages of war, and to convert 
the hostilities hitherto waged against armed forces into a cam- 
paign of robbery and murder against unarmed citizens and 
peaceful tillers of the soil ; 

" VI. And whereas, this Government, bound by the highest 
obligations of duty to its citizens, is thus driven to the necessity 
of adopting such just measures of retribution and retaliation as 
shall seem adequate to repress and punish these barbarities ; 
and U'hareas, the orders above recited have only been published 
and made known to this Government since the sisrnature of a 
cartel for exchange of prisoners of war, which cartel in so far 
as it pi-ovides for an exchange of prisoners hereafter captured, 
would never have been signed or asireed to bv this Government 
if the intention to change the war into a system of indiscriminate 
murder and robbery had been made known to it ; and whereas, 
a just regard to humanity forbids that the repression of crime 
which this Government is thus compelled to enforce should be 
unnecessarily extended to retaliation on the enlisted men in the 
army of the United States, who may be unwilling instruments 



192 LIFlU OF GENERAL LEE. 

of the savage cruelty of their commanders, so long as there is 
]iope that the excesses of the enemy may be checked or pre- 
vented by retribution on the commissioned officers who have 
the power to avoid guilty action by refusing service under a 
(xovcrnment which seeks their aid in the perpetration of such 
infamous barbarities ; 

"VII. Therefore it, is ordered, that Major-General Pope, 
Brigadier-General Steinwehr, and all commissioned officers 
serving under their respective commands, be, and they are 
liereby, expressly and specially declared to be not entitled to 
be considered as soldiers, and, therefore, not entitled to the 
benefit of the cartel for the parole of future prisoners of war. 

" Ord>' red further, that in the event of the capture of Major- 
General Pope or Brigadier-General Steinwehr, or of any com- 
missioned officer serving under them, the captive taken shall be 
lield in close confinement so long as the orders aforesaid shall 
continue in force and unrepealed by the competent military 
authorities of the United States ; and that in the event of the 
murder of any unarmed citizen or inhabitant of this Con- 
federacy, by virtue, or under pretext, of any of the orders 
hereinbefore recited, whether with or without trial, whether 
under pretence of such citizen being a spy or hostage, or any 
other pretence, it shall be the duty of the commanding general 
of the forces of this Confederacy to cause immediately to be 
lunig, out of the commissioned officers, prisoners as aforesaid, a 
number equal to the number of our own citizens thus murdered 
by the enemy. By order. 

(Signed) S. Cooper, 

Adjutant and Insiiector- General." 

This order was at once communicated to the Federal Govern- 
ment by General Lee.* It had the desired effect. On the 

*See Note A at the end of this Volume. 



CEDAR RUN. 193 

15th of August, a General Order was issued from the Federal 
War Department (General Order, No. 107) aifording such 
remedies as were deemed satisfactory by the Confederates, and 
Major-General Pope also modified his former orders to a great 
degree. This officer had the unblushing impudence to declare 
that his orders had been either greatly misinterpreted or abused 
by his army. However, the evil was checked. It is an im- 
portant fact, that the measures of the Federal Government 
were not taken until they had received the warning given by 
the Confederates. There being no further necessity for retalia- 
tion on the part of the Confederates, the order given above was 
rescinded, and on the 24th of September, ninety-seven of Pope's 
officers, who had been detained as hostages were released. 

Nevertheless, Pope did his work well. When he entered 
the Rappahannock district it was in a prosperous and flourishing 
condition. When he left it the country was almost a wilder- 
ness, and the people were reduced to beggary and starvation. 
Major Cooke in his " Life of Stonewall Jackson," states that 
when he passed through Culpepper County, in August 1862, it 
was as much as he could do to procure food for himself and 
forage for his horse.* 



II. 

CEDAR RUN. 

When General Pope took command of the " Army of Vir- 
ginia," his first care was to collect its scattered members into 
one compact mass. This gave him a force of about sixty thou- 
sand men, in front of Washington. About the 1st of July he 

* Life of Stonewall Jackson. By John Estea Cooke. Appleton & Go's 
edition, p. 254. 

26 



194 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

commenced to move this body along the Orange and Alexandria 
Eailroad, toward the Rappahannock, threatening both Gordons- 
ville and Charlottesville. Should he succeed in occupying these 
places, he would cut General Lee's communications with South- 
western Virginia. The movement was dictated by a sound 
military policy, and the Federals were hopeful of its success. 

To guard against this danger General Lee detached General 
Jackson's corps, consisting of Jackson's and Ewell's divisions, 
from the army before Richmond, and sent it to Gordonsville by 
railroad, where it arrived on the 19th of July. 

As soon as he reached Gordonsville General Jackson pro- 
ceeded to ascertain the strength and position of the enemy. He 
found that General Pope had advanced to the Rapidan, and 
was threatening the Central Railroad and its connections, and 
that the Federal army far outnumbered his own, which was 
simply the force with which he had fought his brilliant cam- 
paign in the Valley. As his own strength was not sufficient to 
enable him to make a stand against the enemy, he sent to Gen- 
eral Lee for reenforcements, and received the division of A. P. 
Hill. 

It was necessary to prevent the Federal army from reaching 
the railroad, and, as the best means of doing this. General 
Jackson determined to fall suddenly upon Pope's army, which 
lay near Culpepper Court House, and either defeat it before 
reenforcements should reach it, or deal it a blow that would 
stop its advance for the time. 

While matters were still in this uncertain state the advanced 
forces of the two armies came into collision. Colonel Wm. E. 
Jones, with the 7th Virginia cavalry, was sent to take charge 
of the outposts on the Rapidan. Arriving near Orange Court 
House, he found the town occupied by a large Federal cavalry 
force. By a bold and decisive charge he drove the enemy 
from the town, but they soon rallied, and in their turn, drove 



CEDAR RUN. 195 

him back to the place where the engagement began. They 
withdrew poon afterwards. 

Having determined to attack Pope, General Jackson left 
Gordonsville on the 7th of August and moved towards the 
Kapidan. On the morning of the 8th, the Federal cavalry on 
the north bank were driven over the river by the brigade of 
General Robertson, and were forced back in the direction of 
Culpepper Court House. As they subsequently threatened the 
train of Jackson's division, Lawton's brigade, of E well's divi- 
sion, was detached to guard it, and consequently took no part 
in the battle which ensued. 

The infantry and artillery followed the cavalry across the 
Rapidan, and took the road to Culpepper. The next day, the 
9th, the army reached the vicinity of Cedar Run, about eight 
miles from Culpepper Court House, where the enemy was 
found in strong force. When first seen, their cavalry were 
drawn up on a ridge to the right of the road. Terry's battery 
was thrown forward to drive them back, which was successfully 
accomplished, the enemy replying with their artillery. Soon 
afterwards the cavalry re-occupied their first position. 

The Federal force consisted of Banks' corps, which had been 
thrown forward by General Pope to meet Jackson's advance. 
He held a strong position, and had with him about twenty- 
eight thousand men. 

Jackson at once commenced to form his line. E well's divi- 
sion, which was the only part of his command that had come up, 
was thrown forward to secure a position on the slope of Slaugh- 
ter's Mountain, which would enable his artillery to command 
the Federal line. The division moved forward, with Early's 
brigade in the advance. Early formed his line on the right of 
the road, and moving across the open field, drove back the 
enemy's cavalry to the crest of a hill which overlooked the 
entire space in his front. As he commenced to mount this hill. 



196 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

the Federal artillery opened a heavy fire upon hun, and large 
bodies of Federal cavalry appeared in the fields on his left. 
Shelterin<i- his troops under the hill, Early advanced three guns 
of Dement's battery to the crest, and replied with spirit to the 
fire of the enemy's artillery. 

Jackson's division had now arrived, and was moved forward 
to Early's assistance, a part being held in reserve. As it came 
into line, its gallant commander, Brigadier-General Charles S. 
Winder, was mortally wounded by the explosion of a shell. 
The command of the division then passed to Brig.-Gen. Wm. 
B. Taliaferro. 

During this time General Ewell, with the brigades of Trim- 
ble and Hays, had been moving towards the position assigned 
him, and which he successfully occupied. It was on the north- 
west termination of Slaughter's Mountain, about two hundred 
feet above the valley below. He posted Latimer's battery in a 
favorable spot, and opened with marked effect on the Federal 
guns. For two hours a sharp "artillery duel" went on be- 
tween the two armies. Jackson was not yet ready to make the 
attack, as he was waiting for A. P. Hill's division to come up. 

About five o'clock. General Banks threw forward his skir- 
mishers, and advanced his infantry, which had until then been 
concealed in the woods to the rear and left of his batteries. 
Another body of infantry suddenly appeared from a valley in 
which they had been concealed, and moved upon Early's right, 
which rested near a clump of trees where his artillery (Brown's 
and Dement's batteries) was posted. Banks made a sharp 
attack, and the battle soon extended along the Southern left 
and centre. 

The first attack was made upon Early, who being hard 
pressed, called for reenforcements. Under the cover of this 
attack. Banks massed his infantry on his right, and a little after 
five o'clock made a sudden rush at the Confederate left, and 



CEDAR RUN. 19f 

beating back the force there by the weight of his column and 
the impetuosity of his assault, turned the flank, and gained the 
Confederate rear. Taliaferro's brigade was driven back in con- 
fusion, followed by Early's left, and it seemed that the whole 
line would give Avay before the enemy, who advanced with loud 
cheers and great rapidity. 

At this moment, when the fate of the army seemed decided, 
A. P. Hill's division arrived on the field. Jackson, whose 
quick eye had seen the danger, had already called up the 
" Stonewall brigade," which had been held in reserve. Now 
he detached Branch's brigade from Hill's division, and united it 
with his old command. Placing himself at the head of these 
troops, he hurled them at the enemy in a fierce and determined 
charge. The men rushed forward, shouting, " Stonewall 
Jackson! Stonewall Jackson!" "The presence of Jackson, 
leading them in person, seemed to produce an indescribable 
influence on the troops, and, as he rode to and fro, amid the 
smoke, encouraging the men, they greeted him with resounding 
cheers. This was one of the few occasions when he is reported 
to have been mastered by excitement. He had forgotten 
apparently that he commanded the whole field, and imagined 
himself a simple colonel leading his regiment. Everywhere, 
in the thickest of the fire, his form was seen and his voice 
heard, and his exertions to rally the men were crowned ^\dth 
success. The Federal advance was checked, the repulsed 
troops re-formed."* The enemy were brought to a halt, and 
then driven back into the woods, the battle continuins: to rasre 
with great stubbornness between the two brigades just named 
and the enemy. Pender's and Archer's brigades now came up, 
and a general charge was made on the left and in the centre, 
which drove the enemy back over the valley and into the woods 

* Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 261. 



198 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

beyond. At the same time a charge of the Federal cavalry was 
repulsed by Taliaferro's and Branch's brigades. 

Up to this time Ewell had been prevented from advancing by 
the incessant fire of the Southern batteries on the left and in 
the centre, which swept his only approach to the enemy's posi- 
tion. This difficulty no longer existed, and General Ewell 
now threw forward his division, and drove the enemy rapidly 
before him. 

Jackson's whole line was now advancing, driving Banks at 
every point. The Federals fell back rapidly, and by dark their 
original position was in the hands of the Confederates. Their 
dead and wounded were left on the field. 

Jackson was anxious to reach Culpepper Court House before 
morning, and pressed on in pursuit. The darkness made it 
necessary to advance cautiously. The pursuit was soon ended, 
however. About a mile from the battle-field, the enemy were 
discovered immediately in front, in heavy force. Pope having 
sent fresh troops to General Banks. Jackson halted, and 
threw forward Field's brigade and Pegram's battery. Pegram 
at once opened fire, producing much disorder and confusion in 
the Federal line. Three batteries, well served, opened in 
reply, and the Southern guns were silenced and withdrawn.* 

Learning from prisoners taken that reenforcements had 
reached Banks, General Jackson concluded to halt until the 
morning. The next day, the lOtli, he had reason to believe 
that the Federal army was too strong to be attacked again. 
During the day this was confirmed by a reconnoissance of the 
cavalry under General Stuart, who had just arrived on a tour 
of inspection. Jackson posted his army so as to meet any 
attack of the enemy should they attempt to advance, and pro- 
ceeded to send off his wounded to Gordonsville, bury the dead, 

♦ General Jackson's Eeport. Rebellion Record. Part LVII. p. 541. 



THE ADVANCE TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK. 199 

and collect the arms left on the battle-field. A rain-storm pre- 
vailed during the day. 

On the 11th General Pope sent a flag of truce, requesting 
permission until two o'clock, to remove and bury such of his 
dead as had not been interred by the Confederates. The 
request was granted, and the time subsequently extended at the 
request of the Federal Commander, to five o'clock in the after- 
noon. 

On the night of the 11th the army fell back towards the 
Rapidan, and returned to Gordonsville. General Jackson 
retreated, to avoid being attacked by a vastly superior force, 
and with the hope that General Pope would follow him until he 
could be reenforced . * 

The Confederate loss in the battle was one thousand three 
hundred and fourteen. About one thousand five hundred 
stand of small arms were collected from the field. The Federal 
loss was about one thousand eight hundred. Jackson cap- 
tured over four hundred prisoners, including Brigadier-General 
Prince. 

The army recrossed the Rapidan on the 14th of August, and 
took position in the vicinity of Gordonsville. 



III. 

THE ADVANCE TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK. 

The victory at Cedar Run checked for awhile the advance of 
General Pope. It had also another effect which neither General 
Lee, nor General Jackson had hoped for. It alarmed General 
Halleck for the safety of Pope's army, and the Federal Capital. 

♦ Jackson's Report. >* 



200 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

That officer could not rest easy now that Jackson was on the 
Rapidan, and orders were sent to General McClellan to move 
forward without delay from the James to Pope's assistance. 
Thus Pope was brought to a halt and Richmond relieved from 
the danger which threatened it at one blow. 

General Lee had been watching the movements of the enemy 
with great care, and the order for McClellan's withdrawal had 
been scarcely received before he detected the whole plan. His 
opinions were confirmed by information which he received 
respecting the departure of Burnside's corps from Fortress 
Monroe. He felt sure that it was intended to suspend active 
operations on the James, and his sound judgment told him that 
he could best relieve Richmond by suddenly reenforcing Jack- 
son, and driving Pope back from the Rappahannock.* 

To this end, General Longstreet, with his division, and two 
briffades under General Hood, was ordered to leave Richmond 
on the 13th of August, and proceed to Gordonsville. General 
Stuart was also directed to leave a sufficient force of cavalry to 
watch the enemy at Fredericksburg and guard the Central Rail- 
road, and to report to General Jackson with the rest. R. H. 
Anderson was withdrawn from the James River, and sent after 
Lonsstreet. D. H. Hill's and McLaws' divisions, two brigades 
under General Walker, and Hampton's cavalry brigade were 
left to watch the enemy on the James. 

Longstreet reached Gordonsville on the 15th, followed im- 
mediately by General Lee, himself. 

After the battle of Cedar Run, General Pope took position 
in advance of Culpepper Court House, having been reenforced 
by Reno's corps of Burnside's army. His left rested on the 
Rapidan near Raccoon Ford ; his centre was at Cedar Moun- 
tain, and his right lay on Robertson's River, a branch of the 

* General Lee's Report. 



THE ADVANCE TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK. 201 

Rapidan. Reno held the left, McDowell the centre, and Sigel 
the right, while Banks was stationed at Culpepper Court House. 
This was his position when General Lee reached Gordons ville. 

On the 16th of August the army advanced from Gordons- 
ville towards the Rapidan. A personal reconnoissance revealed 
the enemy's position to General Lee. Resolving to lose no 
time, Lee determined to attack Pope, and defeat him. His 
plan was a good one. Stuart was to move with the cavalry, 
cross the Rapidan at Morton's Ford, and, passing through 
Stevensburgh, capture Rappahannock Station (the point where 
the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, Pope's line of communi- 
cation with Washington, crosses the Rappahannock River) , burn 
the railroad bridge, and destroy the track and telegraph ; after 
which he was to operate towards Culpepper Court House, and 
take position on Longstreet's right. Longstreet, in charge of 
the right wing of the army, was to pass the Rapidan at Rac- 
coon Ford, and move on Culpepper Court House ; Jackson, 
who held the left, was to cross at Sommerville Ford, and 
move in the same direction, keeping on Longstreet's left ; 
while R. H. Anderson, with the reserve, was to follow Jack- 
son. This would bring the army directly upon Pope's left 
flank, and, with his communications cut, it was believed that he 
would meet with a severe defeat. The movements were to 
commence on the 18th, but were delayed until the 20th of 
August. 

Before they could be executed General Pope became alarmed 
for his safety, and — it is almost incredible, but it is true — 
retreated behind the Rappahannock. Yes, the man who knew 
no such thing as a line of retreat absolutely found one, and 
showed his back to his enemy. General Lee had not been 
obliging enough to allow Pope to perform the little feat of 
** lying off his flanks " upon which the Federal general had set 
26 



202 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

his heart, and with a description of which he had delighted the 
Congressional Committee.* 

Pope fell back on the 18th and 19 th of August. It was a 
wise measure on his part, but it finally brought to him that 
'* disaster and shame," which he had pictured to his army as 
lurking in the rear. His new position behind the Rappahan- 
nock was well chosen. His left was at Kelley's Ford, and his 
right three miles above Rappahannock Station. 

" General Longstreet crossed the Rapidan at Raccoon Ford, 
and, preceded by Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry brigade, arrived 
early in the afternoon near Kelley's Ford, on the Rappahan- 
nock, where Lee had a sharp and successful skirmish with the 
rear-guard of the enemy, who held the north side of the river 
in strong force. Jackson passed the Rapidan at Sommerville 
Ford, and moved toward Brandy Station. Robertson's (Fed- 
eral) brigade of cavalry was encountered, which was gallantly 
attacked and driven across the Rappahannock by Robertson's 
(Confederate) command. General Jackson halted for the night 
near Stevensburgh, and on the morning of the 21st, moved 
upon Beverley's Ford on the Rappahannock. The 5th Virginia 
Cavalry, under Colonel Rosser, was sent forward by General 
Stuart to seize the north bank of the river at this point, and 
gallantly accomplished the object, capturing a number of pris- 
oners and arms. General Stuart subsequently arrived, and, 
being furnished by General Jackson with a section of artillery, 
maintained his position for several hours, skirmishing warmly 
with the enemy. General Robertson, who had crossed the river 
above Beverley's Ford, reported that the enemy was advancing 
in large force upon the position held by General Stuart ; and, 
as it had been determined in the meantime not to attempt the 
passage of the river with the army at that point, that oflScer 
withdrew to the south side. The enemy soon afterward ap- 

•Beport on the Conduct of tbe War. Vol. I. p. 278. 



THE ADVANCE TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK. 203 

peared in great strength on the opposite bank, and an animated 
fire was kept up during the rest of the day between his artillery 
and the batteries attached to Jackson's leading division, under 
Brigadier-General Taliaferro." * 

The position held by the Federal army commanded the south 
bank of the river, which was held by General Lee, and the 
fords were so strongly guarded that it was impossible to force a 
crossing without incurring heavy loss. General Lee, therefore, 
resolved to seek a more favorable crossing place higher up the 
stream. General Longstreet was ordered to take position on 
the 21st of August, in the vicinity of the Railroad bridge and 
Beverley's Ford, in order to mask the movements of General 
Jackson, who was directed to ascend the river. Jackson moved 
off on the morning of the 22d, leaving Trimble's brigade near 
Freeman's Ford, to protect his trains. In the afternoon Long- 
street sent Hood with his own and Whitino^'s brio^ade under 
Colonel Law to relieve Trimble. Just as Hood joined Trimble, 
the enemy crossed a considerable force at Freeman's Ford, and 
attacked them. A short, but severe engagement ensued, result- 
ing in the Federals being driven back over the river with heavy 
loss. 

General Jackson reached Warrenton Springs on the old 
stage road from Warrenton to Culpepper Court House, in the 
afternoon. He found the bridge over the river at this point 
destroyed, and the crossing guarded by a very slight force. 
He at once determined to secure such a valuable position. 
The 13th Georgia, and the batteries of Brown and Dement, 
and afterwards Early's brigade, were thrown across the river. 
The enemy's force was small and made but a slight resistance, 
and the Springs were soon in Jackson's possession. 

Just as this was effected, a heavy rain storm set in, and the 
river began to rise rapidly. Soon the fords wero submerged, 

* General Lee's Report. 



204 LIFE or GENERAL LEE. 

and Early was completely cut off from the southern bank. 
His situation was dangerous in the extreme, for the enemy, 
taking advantage of the rise in the river, which destroyed the 
fords in front of Longstreet's position, withdrew from the points 
lower down, and concentrated their main force in front of the 
Springs. Upon reconnoitering his position Early found the 
enemy in force in his front and on both of his flanks. He in- 
formed General Jackson of this, and asked for assistance, but, 
as it was impossible to send more men over the river, Jackson 
ordered him to hold his ground to the last, and at once set about 
constructing a temporary bridge over the swollen stream. Thus 
the 23d passed away, and by dawn of the 24th the bridge was 
completed, and Early was withdrawn to the south bank. He 
had hardly passed the river, when the enemy opened furiously 
on the Confederates with their artillery. 

On the 23d, General Longstreet opened with his artillery on 
a body of the enemy that had crossed to the south bank of the 
stream, near the railroad bridge, after the withdrawal of Gen- 
eral Jackson from that point. A sharp cannonade of several 
hours forced them to recross the river. Longstreet then shelled 
their position on the north bank, and drove them from it. In 
retiring they burned the railroad bridge and the neighboring 
dwellings. 

The enemy having withdrawn towards Warrenton Springs, 
Longstreet was ordered to Jackson's support, and, overcoming 
the obstacles to his march presented by the swollen tributaries of 
the Rappahannock, reached Jeffersonton, just opposite the 
Springs, in the afternoon. 

In the meantime General Stuart had asked and received per- 
mission to make a dash upon the enemy's rear, and cut their commu- 
nications with Washington. Leaving his position at Freeman's 
Ford, with fifteen hundred men and two pieces of artillery, at 
ten o'clock on the morning of the 22nd of August, he crossed 



THE ADVANCE TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK. 205 

the Rappahannock at Waterloo and Hart's Mill, and took 
the direct road to Warrenton. Reaching that place in the after- 
noon, he halted to close up and obtain information. No force 
of the enemy had been at the town for several days, and Gen- 
eral Stuart learned that the road was clear to Catlett's Station, 
in the rear of Cedar Creek. He determined to move on that 
point with the intention of destroying the railroad bridge over 
the creek, and cutting the telegraph line. He had not pro- 
ceeded far before his march was rendered difficult by a severe 
rain storm — the same that placed Early in such danger. Push- 
ing on, however, he reached the little village of Auburn, in the 
vicinity of Catlett's Station, at dark. The enemy's picket at 
this point was captured and the command soon rode into the 
midst of a large Federal camp. The night was intensely dark, 
and the rain was falling, so that it was almost impossible to 
distinguish anything. 

Fortunately, at this moment, a negro man was captured and 
brought before General Stuart. He had known the General 
previous to the war, and, at once recognizing him, informed 
him that he was in the immediate vicinity of General Pope's 
headquarters, and offered to guide him to the spot. Stuart ac- 
cepted the offer, and in a few minutes Fitzhugh Lee's regi- 
ment dashed in among Pope's staff tents, taking the occupants 
completely by surprise, capturing a number of prisoners, mostly 
officers, and securing General Pope's private baggage and 
horses, and property to a large amount. The most valuable 
capture of all, however, was the dispatch hook of the Federal 
commander, which contained copies of all his official corres- 
pondence with his Government. 

While this was bein2; done Rosser's and Brien's rejjiments 
were sent to attack another camp beyond the railroad, and de- 
stroy the road. They moved off in the darkness and heavy 
rain, but as soon as the first shot was fired the enemy ex- 



206 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

tinguislied every light in their camp and took refuge in their 
wao-ons. Under these circumstances the cavalry desisted from 
the attack, and turned their attention to the railroad. 

An effort w^as now made by a party under Captain Black- 
ford to destroy the bridge, but it was found to be so thor- 
oughly saturated with water that it would not burn. Axes 
were brought up, and an additional force under General Fitz 
Lee sent to cut the bridge down, but the stream was too high 
for the men to get at much of it. Besides this, the structure 
was too strongly built to be destroyed in this manner, and the 
enemy were collecting on the opposite bank of the creek, and 
firing on Stuart's men. It was found to be impossible to de- 
stroy the bridge, and the cavalry were withdrawn. 

General Stuart knew that the rain would raise the streams in 
his rear, and that there was danger of his being cut off in this 
way. In order to prevent this it was necessary to return at 
once, and the cavalry commenced before daylight to retrace 
their steps by the same route they had come. The march was 
continued without halting, and they arrived safely at Warren- 
ton Springs on the 23rd of August, in time to cross the Rap- 
pahannock by the bridge Jackson had constructed for Early. 

Stuart's loss was slight. He captured over three hundred 
prisoners, of whom a large number were officers — some being 
members of General Pope's staff. 



IV. 

JACKSON'S FLANK MARCH. 

The captured dispatch-book of General Pope was fully worth 
the expedition of General Stuart. It was at once forwarded 
to General Lee. It revealed to him that General Pope had 



Jackson's flank march. 207 

informed the Federal Government that he feared he would be 
unable to hold the line of the Rappahannock, and that he had 
called for reenforcements. Moreover it furnished General Lee 
w^ith an accurate description of the strength and position of the 
Federal army, and the designs and wishes of General Pope. 
It contained also the information that McClellan had left West- 
over, that a part of his army was en route to join Pope, that the 
remainder was following as rapidly as possible, and that the 
army of General Cox was being withdrawn from the Kanawha 
Valley for the same purpose. If all these troops should join 
him, Pope would have an army of nearly two hundred thousand 
men. The entire army of Northern Virginia was not more 
than seventy thousand strong, and if anything was to be at- 
tempted against Pope, it would have to be done at once. 

General Lee had already ordered a part of D. H. Hill's 
division from Richmond, and, now that he was assured of the 
withdrawal of McClellan, he directed the remainder of the 
force on the James, consisting of the rest of D. H. Hill's com- 
mand, McLaws' division. Walker's two brigades, and Hamp- 
ton's cavalry, to join him at once on the Rappahannock. 

The situation of his army was critical, and General Lee 
resolved upon a bold and hazardous plan of operations, but one 
which was justified by the condition of aflPairs, and the fact that 
it promised a speedy defeat of Pope's army. Jackson was 
ordered to cross the river above Pope's right, move around that 
flank, gain his rear, and cut his communications with Washing- 
ton. Longstreet, during this movement, was to engage Pope's 
attention by threatening him in front, and as soon as Jackson 
had gotten sufficiently advanced in his march, was to follow him. 
Thus, by planting his whole army on Pope's line of communi- 
cation. General Lee hoped to force him back from the Rappa- 
hannock, and compel him to fight before all of his reenforce- 
ments could join him. 



208 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Jackson began his march from "Warrenton Springs, on 
Monday morning, August 25th. Ascending the south bank 
of the Rappahannock, he crossed the river at Hinson's Ford, 
dra"-ging his artillery with great difficulty over the rugged and 
narrow road. Pushing on right under the shadow of the Blue 
Ridge, across open fields, and along roads seldom used, he 
moved in the most direct line for Thoroughfare Gap, where the 
Manassas Gap Railroad passes through the Bull Run Moun- 
tains, This pass must be reached before the enemy could hear 
of his movements and occupy it. The day was intensely hot, 
but the men were not allowed to halt for food or rest. Moving 
through Orleans, in Fauquier County, the corps reached Salem 
at midnight, after a forced march of thirty-five miles. Jackson 
seems to have infused his own indomitable energy into his men, 
for at the end of their fatiguing tramp, though hungry and 
footsore, tliey were still anxious to press on, and the march had 
been made without stragglers. The troops bivouacked at 
Salem for the night. 

All along the route the people had gazed at them with 
wonder and joy. They had not seen the gray-jackets in that 
region for many weary months, and eager questions were put to 
the men as to where they had come from and where they were 
going. To all a short refusal to reply was given as the corps 
hurried on. 

During the day General Stuart had been moving on Jack- 
son's right, disposing his cavalry so as to prevent the enemy 
from gaining any information of the flank march of the Second 
Corps. He continued to perform this duty until the object of 
the march was attained. 

At daybreak on the 26th of August, the troops were again 
under arms. Wheeling to the right, Jackson moved direct to 
Thoroughfare Gap, which, to his joy, he found unoccupied by 
the enemy. Passing through Gainesville, he reached Bristoe 



Jackson's flank march. 209 

Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Eailroad, at sunset. At 
Gainesville General Stuart joined the column, and took position 
on the right flank. 

As the corps reached the railroad, the sound of cars, coming 
from the direction of Warrenton Junction, was heard, and 
General Ewell at once divided his force to take simultaneous 
possession of two points of the railroad. A train heavily 
loaded dashed by at full speed. It was fired into by the 2nd 
Virginia Cavalry, but succeeded in reaching Manassas in safety. 
Other trains were now heard approaching, and Ewell proceeded 
to obstruct the track with logs. This resulted in the capture 
of two trains, one of which was thrown from the track. 
Others were still heard coming, but the alarm had been given, 
and they hesitated. "The trains in the direction of Warren- 
ton uttered shrill screams, which experts declared to signify, 
'Is all right?' One of these railroad experts, named Fore- 
man, jumped on the prostrate engine, turned a portion of the 
machinery, and signalled back, ' All right, come on,' — General 
Fitz Lee drawing up his cavalry to fire upon them as they drew 
near. But the alarm had been given ; the trains would not run 
the perilous gauntlet."* 

The first part of General Lee's plan had been successfully 
accomplished. Jackson was now fairly in Pope's rear, and in 
possession of his line of supply. 

When he reached Bristoe Station, General Jackson learned 
that the enemy had established their principal depot of supplies 
and had collected an immense quantity of stores at Manassas 
Junction, eight miles distant. The capture of this point was 
therefore a necessity, and upon making known his desire to 
secure it, he was met by an offer from Brigadier-General Trim- 
ble to undertake the task. The offer was accepted, and, not- 
withstanding the march of thirty miles which had been made 

♦ Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 279. 
27 



210 LITE OF GENERAL LEE. 

since dawn, and the darkness of the night, Trimble was at once 
dispatched to Manassas. In order to increase the prospect of 
success. General Stuart was soon afterwards ordered to follow 
Trimble with a part of the cavalry, and, as the ranking officer, 
to take command of the expedition.* 

Stuart pushed ahead of the infantry with his cavalry, until 
fired on with canister from the works at Manassas, when, find- 
ino" it impossible to use his troopers in the darkness, he sent for 
the infantry, and after a short struggle captured the place with 
its small garrison. f 

The amount of property captured at Manassas was very 
large. The articles were as follows : — eight pieces of artil- 
lery ; seventy-two horses and equipments ; three hundred pris- 
oners ; two hundred negroes ; two hundred new tents ; one 
hundred and seventy-five extra horses ; ten locomotives ; two 
railroad trains loaded with stores worth several millions of dol- 
lars ; fifty thousand pounds of bacon ; one thousand barrels of 
beef; twenty thousand barrels of pork; several thousiand bar- 
rels of flour, and a large supply of forage. In addition to all 
this were a bakery capable of preparing fifteen thousand loaves 
of bread daily, and a number of sutler's establishments well 
supplied. 

These captures were a rich harvest to Jackson's hungry men 
when they arrived the next day. The troops were marched up 
and told to help themselves, which they did with a will. An 
eye-witness writes, " 'Twas a curious sight to see our ragged 
and famished men helping themselves to every imaginable arti- 
cle of luxury or necessity, whether of clothing, food, or what 
not. For my part I got a tooth brush, a box of candles, a 
quantity of lobster salad, a barrel of coflfee, and other things 
which I forget. The scene utterly beggared description. Oui 

* General Jackson's Report. f General Stuart's Report. 



WHAT POPE FOUND IN HIS REAR. 211 

men had been living on roasted corn since crossing the Rappa- 
hannock, and we had brought no wagons, so that we could 
cany little away of the riches before us. But the men could 
eat one meal at least. So they were marched up, and as much 
of everything eatable served out as they could carry. To see a 
starving man eating lobster salad and drinking Rhine wine, 
barefooted and in tatters, was curious ; the whole thing was 
indescribable." * 

On the morning of the 27th General Jackson moved with all 
his troops, save Ewell's division, to Manassas. Ewell was left 
at Bristoe Station with orders to endeavor to hinder the march 
of the enemy should they commence to retire from the Rappa- 
hannock, but, if hard pressed, himself, to fall back and rejoin 
the main army at Manassas. 

When the Federal authorities at Washington heard of the 
capture of Manassas, they supposed it had been effected by a 
mere raiding party of the Confederates, and on the morning of 
the 27th a New Jersey brigade, under General Taylor, was 
sent to recover the place. General Taylor made his attack 
about midday, with great gallantry, but was routed with 
slaughter, being himself mortally wounded. 



V. 

WHAT POPE FOUND IN HIS ^J:\n. 

The march of General Jackson had been rapid and secret, 
but it had not escaped the observation of the Federal com- 
mander. An officer of General Banks' staff (Col. J. S. Clark,) 
chanced to be near Jackson's line of march during the first day. 
He held his position at great personal risk until the corps 

• Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 280. 



212 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

passed by, counting the regiments and batteries, and noticing 
the movements of the cavalry.* He immediately communi- 
cated this information to General Pope. The Federal com- 
mander, however, failed to make any use of this knowledge, 
which reached him in time to afford him an opportunity to 
occupy Thoroughfare Gap in force, and baffle Jackson's whole 
movement. The mysterious march of the great flanker seems 
to have completely bewildered General Pope, who at one time 
was under the impression that the Confederates were retreating 
to the mountains. He struck out blindly in a series of ridicu- 
lous manoeuvres on the Rappahannock, the necessity for, or 
meaning of which, it is difficult to understand. He was recalled 
to his senses, however, on the night of the 2fith, when he 
learned that Jackson had seized the railroad at Manassas, 
planted himself in his rear, and threatened to cut him off from 
Washington. 

Pope's army was now very strong. He had been reen- 
forced by Reynold's division, and Porter's, and Heintzleman's 
corps of the Army of the Potomac, and the remainder of that 
force (the corps of Sumner and Franklin) was moving from 
Alexandria to join him. His army was therefore not less than 
one hundred and twenty thousand strong, exclusive of the two 
corps yet on their way to him, and it was in his power to hurl 
this command upon the single corps of Jackson. He saw the 
opportunity thus offered, and made his dispositions to seize it 
with more sldll and vigor than he ever exhibited' at any previous 
or subsequent period of the campaign. 

Jackson and Longstreet being yet separated, Pope's true 
policy was to move to his left, and seize the road leading from 
Thoroughfare Gap to the position held by Jackson. This 
would compel Longstreet to fight for his junction with Jackson, 
and while he was thus held at bay. Pope could fall on the great 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 178. 



WHAT POPE FOUND IN HIS REAR. 213 

danker, with the rest of his array, and destroy him. General 
Pope was quick to appreciate this, and at once threw forward 
McDowell's corps, followed by that of Sigel and Eeynolds' 
division, towards Gainesville. Should he succeed in occupying 
Gainesville, and there was then nothing to prevent it, he would 
place fort}^ thousand of his best troops between Longstreet and 
Manassas. Reno's corps and Kearney's division of Heintzel- 
man's corps, were directed to move upon Greenwich, to support 
McDowell, while, with Hooker's division, Pope marched direct 
upon Manassas, along the railroad. Porter's corps was at 
Warrenton Junction. This was to be relieved by Banks' corps, 
which was to remain at the Junction to cover the trains, and 
repair the railroad. Porter, as soon as relieved, was to hasten 
to Gainesville. No better plan could have been selected, and 
this one promised the most brilliant success. 

McDowell's column occupied Gainesville on the night of the 
27th, and at the same time Ueno and Kearney reached Green- 
wich. On the afternoon of the same day Hooker attacked 
General Ewell at Bristoe Station. His first attack was re- 
pulsed, but he brought up fresh troops, and pressed Ewell 
so heavily that the latter, in obedience to the orders he had 
received from General Jackson, fell back in good order, across 
Broad Run, checking every attempt at pursuit, and burning the 
railroad bridge over the stream. That night he rejoined Gen- 
eral Jackson at Manassas. His stout resistance in the after- 
noon induced General Pope to believe that the battle would be 
renewed the next morning, and Porter's corps was diverted from 
its march to Gainesville, and ordered to join Hooker at Bristoe 
Station that night. 

Jackson's situation was critical. The main body of Pope's 
army, at least seventy thousand strong, was at Gainesville and 
Greenwich between himself and Longstreet, and with the 
remainder Pope was advancing directly upon him. The cav- 



214 LIFE OF GENERAIi LEE. 

airy had been employed all day in ascertaining the movements 
of the enemy, and every report brought in to General Jackson 
informed him of an increase of his danger. On the night of 
the 27th, his resolution was taken. It was necessary to retire 
from Manassas — but in what direction ? 

Two courses were open to him. One was to march rapidly 
by way of Aldie, and, passing around Bull Run Mountain, 
unite his column with that of Longstreet. This could have 
been accomplished in safety, but it would have destroyed Lee's 
whole plan of operations, for it would have relinquished Pope's 
communications and put an end to all hope of forcing him to a 
general engagement upon the ground chosen by General Lee, 
who wished to compel Pope to fight while deprived of his sup- 
plies and cut off from his reenforcements. 

The other course was full of danger, but it promised to the 
great soldier who adopted it, the complete success of the whole 
plan of the campaign. It was to withdraw towards Bull Run, 
and occupy a position nearer to Thoroughfare Gap. It was 
certain that he would have to fight hard to maintain this posi- 
tion, but it would bring him within supporting distance of Gen- 
eral Longstreet, and, if the worst came to the worst, he could 
still retreat behind the mountains by way of Aldie. 

That ni"rht the immense masses of stores taken at Manassas, 
were committed to the flames, and by the lurid' glare of the fire, 
the troops took up the march toward Bull Run. 

It was a great sacrifice for the hungry men to refrain from 
trying to carry off the food which had fallen into their hands. 
But to attempt to remove more than one meal would have been 
to encumber themselves too heavily, and this would have re- 
tarded their subsequent movements, as was so terribly shown at 
a later period of the war. Therefore they applied the torch to 
the food they needed so much, and, still gay and cheerful, 
moved off in the darkness to meet new privations. Their patri- 



WHAT POPE FOUND IN HIS REAR. 215 

otism was richly rewarded. The destruction of the stores at 
Manassas was a crushing blow to General Pope. That officer, 
in his report of the campaign, says : 

" Our men, much worn down by hard service and continuous 
fighting for many previous days, and very short of provisions, 
rested on their guns. Our horses had had no forage fcjr two 
days. I had telegraphed and written urgently for forage and 
rations to be sent us ; but, on Saturday morning, before the 
action was resumed, I received a letter from General Franklin, 
written the day before, at Alexandria, stating that he had been 
directed by General McClellan to inform me that rations and 
forage for my command would be loaded into the cars and avail- 
able wagons as soon as I could send a cavalry escort to Alexan- 
dria to bring them up. All hope of being able to maintain ray 
position, whetiier victorious or not, vanished with this letter. 
My cavalry was utterly broken down by long and constant ser- 
vice in the face of the enemy, and, bad as they were, could not 
be spared from the front. * * I at once understood that we 
must, if possible, finish what we had to do that day, as night 
must see us behind Bull Run if we wished to save men and 
animals from starvation."* 

After destroying the stores, Jackson set off for his new posi- 
tion. In order to deceive the enemy, A. P. Hill's division, 
with a part of the cavalry, was sent towards Centreville. Hill 
crossed Bull Run at Blackburn's Ford, but upon reaching Cen- 
treville, wheeled to the left, and, following the Warrenton road, 

* General Pope's Report. — I have quoted this to show that the loss of his 
stores was a severe blow to Pope. The apology for his defeat made in this 
extract is not valid. The Confederates suffered more than the Federals from 
loss of food, but they conquered in spite of this. Moreover, the letter of 
General Frar.klin was received the day of the great battle of the SOth, when 
it was impossible for supplies to reach Pope. Fitz Lee's cavalry had been so 
disposed as to cut off such a train. Even had the train succeeded in getting 
through, it could not have reached Pope before his defeat. 



216 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

moved back towards Bull Run, which he recrossed at the Stone 
Bridge, and rt^joined General Jackson, who, Avith the rest of 
tlie corps, had taken position on the old battle-field of July 21, 
18GI, with his rig'ht at a point a little above the villag-e of 
Groveton, and his left resting near Sudley Ford. His line Avas 
formed on the north side of the turnpike, and was partially 
protected by an excavation which had been made for a projected 
raih'oad. Thus Jackson had neutralized the excellent disposi- 
tions of General Pope, and had placed himself directly in 
communication with General Lee, in spite of the force at 
Gainesville. He had also secured a strong position, with a 
clear and open line of retreat, in case of disaster. This line 
was formed on the afternoon of the 28th of August. 

In the meantime. General Pope had been completely deceived 
by Ewell's resistance at Bristoe Station, and, as has been seen, 
had ordered Porter 'to join him there. He was under the 
impression that Jackson intended making a stand at Manassas, 
and that Ewell would renew the battle at Bristoe the next 
morning, — the twenty-eighth. This was exactly what Gen- 
eral Pope wanted, and what General Jackson, who was too 
much of a soldier to be caught in such a trap, did not intend to 
permit. Pope, confident of crushing Jackson, ordered Mc- 
Dowell's and Reno's columns on the night of the 27th, to 
move fiiom Gainesville and Greenwich on Manassas, exultantly 
informing General McDowell, " If you will march promptly 
and rapidly at the earliest daw^n, upon Manassas Junction, we 
shall bag the whole crowd." 

Early on the morning of the 28th, General Pope moved 
forward with the divisions of Hooker, Kearney, and Reno, and 
to his surprise found that Ewell had withdrawn during the' 
night. With these divisions, followed closely by Porter's 
corps, he pushed on towards Manassas Junction, still thinking 
that Jackson awaited him there. Manassas was reached at; 



WHAT POPE FOUND IN HIS REAR. 217 

noon, and, to his dismay, he found that Jackson had disap- 
peared. General Pope now saw that he had committed an 
error by withdrawing McDowell from Gainesville, by which he 
had left the road open for the arrival of Lee with Longstreet's 
corps, without inflicting any injury upon the Confederates. 

He endeavored to regain the advantage he had lost by this 
blunder, by recalling McDowell from his movement on Man- 
assas, and directing him to gain the Warrenton turnpike, and 
march upon Centreville, while he, with the rest of the army, 
liurried on towards Centreville in pursuit of A. P. Hill, whose 
division he supposed to be Jackson's main body. By these 
movements he hoped still to be able to crush Jackson before the 
arrival of Lee. He had lost too much time to accomplish 
much, and it was late in the afternoon before McDowell suc- 
ceeded in regaining the turnpike with but one division (King's) 
of his whole corps. 

The truth is Jackson had so completely mystified and de- 
ceived General Pope, that the latter did not know where the 
Confederates were.* This is conclusively proved by the man- 
ner In which the engagement which followed was brought on. 

Late in the afternoon McDowell, with King's division, ar- 
rived in the neighborhood of Groveton, in utter ignorance of 
the presence of Jackson. The approach of this force was re- 
ported to General Jackson by General Stuart, and a part of 
the cavalry, under Colonel Bradley Johnson, was thrown for- 
ward to annoy the Federals in their advance. Supposing that 
the enemy would try to break through by the turnpike, General 
Jackson made his dispositions to receive them, and moved his 
command through the woods, leaving Grovetown on the left 
until he reached a commanding position near Brawner's House. 

* On the 29th, (the next day) General Fitz John Porter telegraphed to Gen- 
eral Burnside, " I expcet they (the Confederates) know what they are doing, 
which is more than any one here, or anywhere, knows." 
28 



218 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

McDowell, still ignorant of Jackson's presence, continued 
his march, and unconsciously exposed his flank to the latter, 
who, seeing his advantage, fell upon it with Jackson's division, 
under General Taliaferro and Evvell's division. 

Tiie Federals stood their ground well, and the engagement 
was severe. Towards dark the enemy were heavily reenforced, 
but made no effort to advance. They held their position with 
"obstinate determination" until nine o'clock at night, when 
they slowly yielded the field to the Confederates, and, during 
the niirht, withdrew to the neighborhood of Manassas Junction. 
The losses on both sides were heavy. Among the Confederate 
wounded were Generals Taliaferro and Ewell, the latter of 
whom lost a leg.* Ewell was the ablest subordinate in the 
whole corps, and his loss to it at this time, was a heavy blow. 

General Pope had found Jackson at last, and was also about 
to find the " disaster and shame" which lurked in his rear. 
He had commenced his movements with a display of good gen- 
eralship, but Jackson had baffled all his plans, and now stood 
confronting him in the position Pope had tried to prevent him 
from reachinof. 



VI. 

THE SECOND BATTLE OP MANASSAS. 

Meanwhile Longstreet had been moving rapidly to join Gen- 
eral Jackson. On the afternoon of the 20th he crossed the 
Rappahannock at Hinson's Ford, and encamped for the night 
near Orleans. The next night he reached AVhite Plains, his 
march having been retarded by certain demonstrations of the 
enemy's cavalry, from the direction of "VVarrenton, which 

♦ Jackson's Report. 



THE SECOND BATTLE OP MANASSAS. 219 

seemed to menace his right. As he had no cavalry with which 
to ascertain the meaning of these movements, General Long- 
street was obliged to advance with caution. On the morning 
of the 28th the march was resumed towards Thoroughfare Gap, 
which was reached in the afternoon. 

This pass is a position of great natural strength, and, at the 
time of General Longstreet's arrival, was held by the division 
of General liicketts, which had been left to guard it after the 
withdrawal of McDowell's column from Gainesville. D. R. 
Jones' division was advanced to drive in the enemy's skirmish- 
ers, and force the passage of the mountain. The skirmishers 
were driven back, and the enemy were discovered holding the 
eastern side in heavy force. As Jones approached they opened 
with their artillery, sweeping the only road through the gorge 
and the sides of the mountain. It was impossible to use artil- 
lery upon the ground held by Jones, and General Longstreet 
determined to turn the enemy's position. Hood, with two 
brigades, and Wilcox with three, were ordered to turn the Fed- 
eral right ; the former, by a narrow footpath leading over the 
mountains to the left of the pass, and the latter, by Hopewell 
Gap, about three miles to the north. 

Before these manoeuvres could be executed, the enemy ad- 
vanced and attacked Jones' left, under Brlgadler-Generul G. 
T. Anderson. They were driven back with spirit, when they 
retired to the east side of the pass, and, just before night, re- 
treated, leaving the road open. Ricketts fell back to jNIanas- 
sas, and Longstreet's command bivouacked for the night, east 
of the mountain.* 

Early on the morning of the 29th the march was resumed, 
•^id the advanced division reached General Jackson's position 

* Beports of Generals Lee and Longstreet. 



220 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

about ten o'clock, almost the entire corps being in line by 
four o'clock.* 

On the morning of the 29th of August, General Jackson 
prepared once more to receive the attack of the enemy. His 
troops were formed along the cut of an unfinislied railroad, his 
right being on the Warrenton turnpike and his left resting near 
Sudley Ford. Ills old division, under General Starke, was on 
the right, E well's division, under General Lawton, in the cen- 

* General Pope states that Longstreet did not join Jackson until sunset, 
declaring that at five o'clock in the afternoon, General Porter, who was 
ordered to prevent the junction of Jackson and Longstreet, " liad in his front 
no considerable body of the enemy," He adds, in trying to shift theodium of 
his defeat from liiniself to General Porter. "I believed then, as I am very 
sure now, that it was easily practicable for him to have turned the right flank 
of Jackson, and to liave faUen upon his rear; that if lie had done so we should 
have gained a decisive victory over the army under Jackson before lie could 
have been joined by any of the forces of Longstreet." This assertion is sim- 
ply untrue, as I shall proceed to show. General Longstreet states that his 
column resumed its march /ro?ra Thoroughfare Gap " early on the 29i7i." He 
adds, "The noise of battle was heard before we reached Gainesville. The 
march was quickened to tlie extent of our capacity. The excitement of battle 
seemed to give new life and strength to our jaded men, and the head of my 
colunm soon reached a position in rear of the enemy's left flank." D. R. 
Jones, who held the extreme right of Longstreet's line after his junction with 
Jackson, says, " Early on the morning of the 29th, I took up the line of 
march in the direction of the old battle-ground of Manassas, whence heavy fir- 
ingwas heard; arriving on the ground about noon, my command was stationed 
on the extreme right of our whole line." General Hood says, " Early in the 
day we came up witli the main body of the enemy on tlie plains of Manassas." 
He states that he was in position when the enemy made tlicir attack upon 
Jackson "about four o'clock in the afternoon." These statements were made 
before the writers had seen General Pope's report, and without reference to 
it. The distance from Thoroughfore Gap to Groveton is not very great, and 
as the troops began the march early in the morning, and were puslicd forward 
at their utmost speed, it would have been very strange if they had not reached 
Jackson's position before Porter arrived from Manassas Junction. I have 
thus established the time of Longstreet's arrival. Farther on I shall show 
that it was impossible for Porter to turn Jackson's right flank at any time 
after noon on the 20th. 



THE SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 221 

tre, and A. P. Hill on the left. The men were weaiy and 
worn out witli tlicir constant marching and fighting, and with 
hunger. Still they were cheerful and firm. General Jackson 
himself was no longer anxious for his safety. Towards morn- 
ing he had received a message from General Lee, announcing 
the passage of Thoroughfare Gap, and the approach of the rest 
of the army. The danger was over. The skill of Jackson 
and the heroism of his men had crowned the brilliant concep- 
tion of General Lee with success. Pope's next blow would 
have to be struck at the whole army of Northern Virginia. 

The engagement of the previous evening had acquainted 
General Pope with Jackson's position. He seems to have been 
under the impression that Jackson was trying to retreat, for on 
the morning of the 29th he ordered General Sigel, who, with 
his corps and Reynolds' division was near Groveton, to attack 
the Confederate line, for the purpose of ^^ bringing JacJcson to 
stand, if it were possible to do so." At the same time Eeno's 
corps and the divisions of Hooker and Kearney under Heintzel- 
man were ordered back from Centreville, whither they had 
gone in their fruitless pursuit on the 28th, while Porter, with 
his corps, and King's division of McDowell's corps, was direc- 
ted to march upon Gainesville. 

About ten o'clock in the morning General Sigel opened his 
attack with his artillery — about the same time that General 
Longstreet's troops commenced to arrive. Jackson's batteries 
replied with spirit. This cannonade continued for some time 
after twelve o'clock, when Sigel was joined by General Pope 
with Reno's and Heintzelman's corps. 

By this time General Longstreet had arrived. He at once 
formed his line with Hood's division on his left. Hood was 
deployed on the right and left of the Warrenton turnpike, at 
right angles with it, and General D. R. Jones was posted on 
the extreme right of the line, his division being drawn up on 



222 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

the IMannssas Gap Railroad, and in echelon with regard to the 
three last brigades.* 

This was tlie position of the Southern army when General 
Pope reached the field. He was, however, but poorly in- 
formed of Jackson's position, and was in total ignorance of 
Longstreet's presence, supposing that he was still on the march. 

The Federal line was formed as follows. Heintzelman'a 
corps, consisting of the divisions of Hooker and Kearney, was 
on the right, in front and west of the Sudley Springs road ; 
Reno and Sigel were in the centre, extending a point a short 
distance south of the Warrenton road ; and Reynolds' division 
was on the left. General Pope was in total ignorance of the 
whereabouts of Porter and McDowell and was still under the 
impression that he had only Jackson's corps to deal with.f 

At three o'clock Pope ordered General Hooker to attack 
Jackson's left. Hooker, who had a better conception of the 
task before him than his commander possessed, remonstrated, 
but General Pope repeated the command, and Hooker made 
his attack with his usual vigor. The Federals advanced gal- 
lantly in the face of a heavy fire from Hill's division, and suc- 
ceeded in breaking his line, and getting possession of a portion 
of the railroad cut, and for a short time Gregg's brigade, on 
the extreme left, was completely isolated from the main body 
of the command. The 14th South Carolina and the 49th 
Georgia, under General McGowan, were at once thrown for- 
ward to recover the lost ground. The enemy resisted stub- 
bornly, but were at last driven back to their main body, the 
opposing forces frequently delivering their fire at ten paces. 
Kearney's division was advanced to Hooker's support, but this 
was also repulsed. The enemy made assault after assault, but 
were driven back each time with heavy slaughter by Hill's 
troops. 

* General Longstreet's Report. 

t Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 184. 



THE SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 223 

By this time General Pope had learned the location of 
Porter's command, wliich was between Manassas and Gaines- 
ville. About half past four o'clock he ordered Porter to turn 
the Confederate right, and attack their rear, still thinking that 
Jackson's right was that of the entire Confederate line. Por- 
ter did not receive this order until about dusk. He had 
endeavored in the morning to execute Pope's order to re-occupy 
Gainesville, but had found his progress barred by Longstreet's 
corps. The same obstacle now prevented him from turning- 
Jackson's right, so that in spite of General Pope's assertion 
that his defeat was due to Porter's failure to perform this move- 
ment, the reader will see that Porter never had an opportunity 
of attacking Jackson before Longstreet's arrival. Conse- 
quently, as Longstreet covered Porter's entire front, the latter 
was compelled to make his attack on Longstreet's front instead 
of on Jackson's flank. The result was that he was met with 
determination, and quickly driven back with the loss of one 
piece of artillery. 

About six o'clock, when he thought Porter Avas coming into 
action, Pope made a furious assault on Jackson's left, with the 
corps of Heintzelman and Reno. The attack was made just as 
the troops on the left had fired almost all their ammunition. 
The movement was successful. The left of Hill was driven 
back on his centre, and the enemy pressed on with loud shouts. 
Hill's men did not give way without a severe struggle, how- 
ever, and when their ammunition was exhausted they fought 
with rocks from the railroad cut — ' ' and it is well established 
that many of the enemy were killed by having their skulls 
broken with fragments of rock." * 

Early's brigade and the 8th Louisiana regiment, followed by 
the 13th Georgia, regained the lost ground, and drove the 
enemy across the railroad and back on their main line. Early's 

• Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 293. 



224 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

pursuit wfis so determined that General Jackson recalled him 
lest he should bring on a general engagement, which it was 
desired to postpone until the next day. 

General Hood was now ordered by General Longstreet to 
advance, and attack the enemy's left, for the purpose of reliev- 
ing the pressure upon Jackson. Before he could comply with 
the order. Hood was himself attacked by Porter. Hood was 
reenforced, and the enemy driven back with heavy loss. 

The Federals retreated at all points, pressed by the Confed- 
erates, until nine o'clock, when the former occupied a strong 
position which they held with a large force, and the Confeder- 
ates drew back to their orisjinal line. The losses on both sides 
were severe. Generals Field and Trimble, and Colonel Forno, 
commanding Hays' brigade, were severely wounded. The 
enemy acknowledged a loss of eight thousand men. 

During the night the Army of Northern Virginia bivouacked 
on the ground it had held during the day. Its withdrawal to 
this position, immediately after the close of the fight, caused 
General Pope to think that his adversary was retreating, and 
he telegraphed to Washington that Lee was flying to the moun- 
tains. He was soon undeceived, however. 

Had General Pope followed the dictates of prudence, he 
would have retreated within the lines of Washington at once. 
He had already suffered a loss of seventeen thousand men, and 
the firmness of his troops was considerably shaken by their 
reverses, as well as by the arduous service to which they had 
been subjected, and hunger — though as regarded fatigue and 
hunger the two armies were about on an eqiiality. In spite of 
this, he resolved to risk one more battle. 

Saturday, the 30th of August, was a clear, sunny day, and 
with the first ray of sunlight the two armies were in readiness. 
General Lee held the same position he had occupied on the 
previous day — his left near Sudley Ford, his centre at Grove- 



THE SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 225 

ton, and his right on the INIanassas Gap Railroad. Tlie centre 
was held by thirty-two pieces of artillery, under Colonel 
Stephen D. Lee, posted on a commanding elevation. Long- 
street's line stretched away obliquely from Jackson's, forming 
with it an angle of nearly forty-five degrees, and causing the 
Southci-n line to assume almost the form of the letter V. The 
artillery was disposed so as to resist the assaults of the enemy, 
and support the advance of the Confederates. The cavalry 
was posted on both flanks. The whole ai-my was pi'esent, with 
the exception of E.. H. Anderson's division, which arrived 
during the forenoon and was held in reserve. 

The Federal line conformed to that of General Lee — it 
took the shape of a V reversed, or with the angle or centre 
thrown forward, and the wings drawn back. Reynolds' divi- 
sion held the left, Ileintzelman's corps the right, and Porter, 
Sigel and Reno the centre. 

Skirmishing began early in the morning. Pope, thinking 
that Lee was reti-eating, being deceived by the withdrawal of 
Jackson's corps on the night of the 30th to the position it held 
during the 3 1st, ordered McDowell to move with three corps on 
the Warrenton road, and "press the enemy vigorously during 
the whole day."* Instead of retreating, liowever. General Lee 
was calmly awaiting Pope's attack in the position he had 
chosen. 

About four o'clock the head of McDowell's column de- 
bouched from the woods in Jackson's front, near his right, and 
moved rapidly upon him. A second and a third line followed, 
each within supporting distance of the other. As the first line 
emerged from the woods, it was shattered by the simultaneous 
discharge of the thirty-two guns in the Confederate centre, and 
immediately the other batteries along Jackson's line opened. 
Under this murderous fire, the Federal lines wavered, and 

Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 189. 
29 



226 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

finally broke. Fresh troops were thrown forward to support 
them, and the battle extended from Jackson's right along his 
centre and left. Pope brought up his forces rapidly, and up to 
this time Jackson had borne the weight of all their assaults. 
They pi-essed so heavily upon him, that, towards five o'clock, 
he sent to General Lee for reenforcements, and General Long- 
street was ordered to advance his troops to Jackson's assistance. 

Fortunately, at this time, a part of the Federal line came 
immediately within reach of General Longstreet's artillery. 
He threw forward two batteries, and opened a heavy fire on the 
Federals. As this was being done, he received General Lee's 
message to go to Jackson's assistance, but as he was sure that 
the best way to aid Jackson was to drive back the enemy then 
in front of him, Longstreet made no movement with his in- 
fantry, but continued the fire of his batteries. In a short time 
this portion of the enemy was put to flight.* 

It was now after five o'clock, and the Federals had been so 
fearfully cut up in their unavailing efforts to force the Southern 
position, that they fell back in some confusion. Seeing this, 
Jackson advanced his line in pursuit, and Longstreet, anticipat- 
ins: General Lee's order to that effect, dashed forward with his 
troops against the Federal centre and left. 

The whole Confederate army was now advancing, pressing 
the enemy back at every point, and threatening the Federal line 
of retreat over Bull Run. Abandoning all hope of victory, 
General Pope now turned his attention to bringing off his army. 
At nightfall his danger was increased by the capture of the 
heights held by Reynolds' and Ricketts' divisions, which were 
carried by a resistless charge of Longstreet's corps. The last 
position left to the Federals was now assailed, — the plateau on 
which the famous Henry House stood, the scene of the severest 
part of the battle of July 21, 1861. If the Confederates could 

♦General Longstreet's Keport. 



ox HILL. 227 

have carried this when they first assailed It, Pope's army would 
have been destroyed, as his retreat would have been cut off. 
The Federal commander promptly occupied the plateau with a 
heavy force, and hurried his defeated and disheartened troops 
to the rear. Towards ten o'clock at night he yielded this posi- 
tion, also, and retreated across Bull Run. 

The Confederate pursuit ceased at this stream. The night 
was intensely dark, and the fords of Bull Run were uncertain. 
General Lee, therefore, deemed it most prudent to suspend op- 
erations until the next morning. 



VII. 
OX HILL. 

On the morning of the 31st of August It was found that the 
Federal army was in position on the heights of Centreville. 
There Pope was joined by the corps of Franklin and Sumner, 
and there he remained during the day. 

General Lee determined to strike one more blow at him, and 
on Sunday morning directed General Longstreet to remain on 
the battle field of the previous day, to engage the attention of 
the enemy, while Jackson made an attempt to turn Pope's right 
and Intercept his retreat to Washington. 

Jackson crossed Bull Run at Sudley Ford, and moved along 
Little River turnpike. A heavy rain fell during the d;!y, and 
this, together with the exhaustion of the men, retarded his prog- 
ress. At night he bivouacked near Chantilly. The next 
morning he continued his march In the direction of Fairfax 
Court House. 

As soon as he was Informed of this movement of Jackson, 
Pope fell back from Centreville towards Fairfax Court House. 



228 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

On the 1 St of September he took position to resist the Confed- 
erate advance, his right being at Ox Hill, near Germantown, 
and his left at Fairfax Court House. 

About five o'clock in the afternoon, in the midst of a drench- 
in"" shower, Jackson arrived before Ox Hill. He at once 
formed his line of battle — Hill's division on the right, Ewell's 
in the centre, and Jackson's on the left, — on the right of the 
turnpike, with his artillery posted on an eminence to the left of 
the road. Field's and Branche's brigades, of Hill's division, 
were sent forward to engage the enemy. The storm was driv- 
ing directly in the faces of the men, but they pressed on with 
spirit. The enemy gave them a warm reception, and at one 
time Branch's brigade was forced back by the heavy fire in its 
front and flank. The rest of Hill's troops were quickly ad- 
vanced, and soon a part of Ewell's division was also engaged. 

The enemy stood firmly until Stevens' division of Eeno's 
corps was beaten back with the loss of its general. General 
Kearney endeavored to reestablish the line, and while gallantly 
engaged in this attempt, rode into the Confederate lines and 
was killed.* The enemy then retreated from the field. 

On the following day the Federal army withdrew within the 
lines of Washington. The campaign was over. 

Longstreet rejoined Jackson on Tuesday morning, September 
2d. For the first time since the capture of Manassas, rations 
were issued to the army. The men had subsisted for several 
days on green corn and unripe apples, bearing their privations 
not only with cheerfulness, but with gayety. Since the ad- 
vance from the Eappahannock began, on the 25th of August, 
they had been constantly marching, or fighting the enemy. 
The consequence was that they were worn down. Many of 

* The widow of General Kearney afterwards requested General Lee to al- 
low her to recover the horse and sword of the gallant soldier. General Lee 
at once granted her request, and sent them to her under a flag of truce. 



ox HILL. 229 

them were without shoes, and their feet had been so cut and 
bruised by the rocky roads over which they had passed, that 
now they could scarcely walk. Few armies have endured more 
suffering than these men experienced in this brief but brilliant 
campaign, and none have borne their trials with more heroic 
fortitude than was shown by the Army of Northern Virginia. 

General Pope was compelled to abandon his wounded on the 
night of the 30th. The next day he sent to General Lee to 
request a truce until he could send ambulances for them. Gen- 
eral Lee refused to grant the truce, but allowed him to send for 
his wounded.* Pope's medical officers at once set to work to 
remove them, but the task was executed so slowly that on the 
3d of September there were still about three thousand remain- 
ing on the field. 

The Confederate loss in the campaign, from the Rappahan- 
nock to the Potomac, was four thousand seven hundred and 

* The following is the correspondence on this subject : — 

" Centkeville, Aug. 31, 1862. 

" Sir: Many of the wounded of this army have been left on the field, for 
whom I desire to send ambulances. Will you please inform me whether you 
consent to a truce until they are cared for? I am, sir, your obedient servant, 

John Pope, Maj.-Gen. U. S. A. Com. 

Commanding Officer Confederate Forces near Groveion. 

" Headquaeters Army of Northern Virginia, 
August 31, 1862. 
" Maj.-Gen. John Pope, u. S. a. Comd'g, <tc. : 

" Sir : Consideration for your wounded induces me to consent to your 
sending ambulances to convey them within your lines. I cannot consent to a 
truce nor a suspension of military operations of this army. If you desire to 
send for your wounded, should your ambulances report to Dr. Guilet, Medical 
Director of this army, he will give directions for their transportation. 

The wounded will be paroled, and it is understood that no delay will take 
place in their.removal. 

Very respectfully your obd't serv't, 
(Signed) R, E. Lee, General." 



230 LIFE OF GENERAL* LEE. 

twenty-five in Longstreet's corps, and four thousand three hun- 
dred and eighty-seven in Jackson's corps, making a total of nine 
thousand one hundred and twelve, including Generals Ewell, 
Taliaferro, Field, and Trimble, severely wounded. 

The Federal losses were enormous. They amounted in all to 
over thirty thousand, including eight Generals killed, seven 
thousand prisoners, in addition to about tAvo thousand wounded 
left in the hands of the Confederates. " Thirty pieces of artil- 
lery, upwards of twenty thousand stand of small arms, numer- 
ous colors, and a large amount of stores, besides those taken 
by General Jackson at Manassas Jun^.tion, were captured " by 
the Confederates.* It was a great and a glorious campaign, 
and was worthy of the illustrious soklier who conducted it. 

After the retreat of Pope to Washington, General Lee sent 
the following letter, describing the achievements of his army, to 
President Davis : — 

"Headquarters Armt Northern Virginia, 
Chantillt, 3d September, 18G2. 

" His Excellency, Jefferson Davis, President Confederate States of 
America : 

*'Mr. President: My letter of the 30th ult. will have 
informed your Excellency of the progress of this army to that 
date. General Longstreet's division, having arrived the day 
previous, was formed in order of battle on the right of General 
Jackson, who had been engaged with the enemy since morning, 
resisting an attack commenced on the 28th. The enemy, on 
the latter day, was vigorously repulsed, leaving his numerous 
dead and wounded on the field. His attack on the morning of 
the 29th was feeble, but became warmer in the afternoon, when 
he was again repulsed by both wings of the arrti}^ His loss on 
this day, as stated in his published report herewith enclosed, 
amounted to eio;ht thousand in killed and wounded. 

* General Lee's Keport. 



ox HILL. 231 

" The enemy being reenforced, renewed the attack on the after- 
noon of the 30th, wlien a general advance of both wings of the 
army was ordered, and after a fierce combat, which raged till 
after nine o'clock, he was completely defeated and driven beyond 
Bull Eun. The darkness of the night, his destruction of the 
Stone Bridge after crossing, and the uncertainty of the fords, 
stopped the pursuit. 

*' The next morning the enemy was discovered in the strong 
position at Centreville, and the army was put in motion towards 
the Little River Turnpike, to turn his right. Upon reaching 
Ox Hill on the 1st of September, he was again discovered in 
our front on the heights of Germantown, and about five P. M. 
made a spirited attack upon the front and right of our columns, 
with a view of apparently covering the withdrawal of his trains 
on the Centreville road, and masking his retreat. Our position 
was maintained with but slight loss on both sides. Major- 
General Kearney was left by the enemy dead on the field. 
During the night the enemy fell back to Fairfax Court House, 
and abandoned his position at Centreville. Yesterday about 
noon, he evacuated Fairfax Court House, taking the roads, as 
reported to me, to Alexandria and Washington. 

' ' I have as yet been unable to get official reports of our loss or 
captures in these various engagements. Many gallant officers 
have been killed or wounded. Of the General officers, Ewell, 
Trimble, Taliaferro, Field, Jenkins, and Mahone, have been 
reported wounded. Colonels Means, Marshall, Baylor, NeflT, 
and Gad berry, killed. About seven thousand prisoners have 
already been paroled, about the same number of small arms 
collected from the field, and thirty pieces of cannon captured, 
besides a number of wagons, ambulances, &c. A large num- 
ber of arms still remain on the ground. For want of trans- 
portation, valuable stores had to be destroyed as captured. 



232 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

while the enemy, at their various depots, are reported to have 
burned many millions of property in their retreat. 

****** 
" Nothing could surpass the gallantry and endurance of the 
troops, who have cheerfully borne every danger and hardship, 
both on the battle-field and march. 

I have the honor to be, very respectfully. 
Your most ob't serv't, 

K. E. Lee, General.^' 

General Lee passed through the campaign unhurt, but, just 
as it closed, was severely injured. On the 4th of September, 
he was standing near his horse, when the animal, becoming 
frightened, dashed against him, and threw him violently to the 
jrround. One of the bones of his left hand was broken. The 
accident was painful, but merely prevented him from riding on 
horseback for a short time. 



^ 



OVER THE BOEDER. 233 



Y. 
THE INVASIO]^ OF THE lOETH. 

Seftehiber — October , 1862. 



I. 

OVER THE BORDER. 

The . defeat of General McClellan before Richmond, and his 
forced retreat to the James River, threw the Northern people 
into great gloom, though it did not cause them to relax their 
efforts. Then they had still an army left on the James capable 
of achieving success in that quarter, and one comparatively new 
and untried on the Rappahannock, whose future was expected 
to be all they could desire. They did not — it was not natural 
that they should — consider that the Army of the Potomac was 
in reality the most useful force in the service of the Union. 
They regarded it as having been rendered worthless by its 
defeat, and fixed all their hopes on the Army of Virginia. The 
defeat which this command sustained on the banks of Bull Run 
fell upon the North with crushing force. Every effort of the 
Federals during the whole year had noAV been rendered of no 
avail. A letter from "Washington at that time declared, " After 
fifteen months of toil and bloodshed, we have now returned to 
the starting point, and the whole work has to be commenced 
30 



234 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

over fio-ain." The Northern people regarded their future witli 
dread and anxiety, and they confidently expected to hear that 
their Capital had fallen into the hands of General Lee. 

This was not all. General Lee had not only inflicted a ter- 
rible defeat upon the Federal army, and thrown the Govern- 
ment and people into gloom and disappointment, but he had, 
by his brilliant success, opened to his hungry soldiers tlie rich 
liarvests and resources of the great Valley of Virginia, and the 
surrounding country. Up to this time the enemy had been 
living upon these resources. Now they were transferred to the 
army of the South, which needed them so greatly. Besides 
this, General Lee had compelled the withdrawal of the army 
of General McClellan from the James River, and had drawn 
off the forces intended for operations against the interior of the 
South from points on the coast. 

It was highly desirable to prolong such a state of affairs, and 
it was the part of wisdom to attempt to inflict still greater 
damage upon tlie enemy before they should have time to recover 
from their disasters. The army was too poorly provided with 
clothing, shoes, ammunition, or any of the necessities of war, 
to allow the hope that it could, even at sucli a favorable moment, 
conquer a peace upon Northern soil ; but there was great reason 
for believing that it could so far cripple the Federals as to retain 
them north of the Potomac for the protection of their own ter- 
ritory, and thus prevent another invasion of Virginia, until such 
a course on the part of the enemy should be rendered impos- 
sible by the arrival of the winter. 

The condition of Maryland also favored the plan of entering 
that State. The great mass of her people were attached to the 
South, not only by a common interest, by tradition, and long 
association, but also by the warmest sympathy. The State had 
been prevented from uniting with the South only by the strong 
kind of the Federal Government, and every report brought 



OVER THE BORDER. 235 

across the border confirmed the opinion that the people of Marj- 
Lmd only awaited the arrival of the Southern army to take up 
arms against the United States. It was thought that if they 
could not directly assist the Confederates by uniting with them, 
they could do'much in their favor by drawing off from the army 
at the command of the Federal Government, the strong force 
which would be necessary to repress such an uprising. There 
can be no doubt that in entertaining these views. General Lee 
was justified by the real condition of affairs, and that his views 
were sound and well founded. He was not, however, so vision- 
ary as the press at the time reported him. He fully appre- 
ciated the difficulties which would attend an uprising on the 
part of the people of Maryland, who had been disarmed by the 
Federal Government, and whose State was occupied in force by 
the Federal army. He knew that until it was in his power to 
afford those people an assurance of assistance and protection, it 
would be unwise to expect them to attempt an undertaking 
which must fail without it received his active cooperation, and 
which, failing, would place them at the mercy of an exasperated 
Government. Therefore he "expected to derive more assist- 
ance in the attainment of his object from the just fears of the 
Washington Government, than from any active demonstration 
on the part of the people," until he should be able to give them 
assurance of his continued pi'otection.* 

The army Avas not prepared for invasion. Besides its extra- 
ordinary fatigue, resulting from the tremendous exertions it had 
made during the campaign, many of the men were suffering for 
Avant of shoes, and had literally marked their way to the Poto- 
mac by their bleeding feet. A lack of clothing had compelled 
them to put up with rags and dirt, and the quartermaster's and 
commissary departments were administered in such a manner as 
to keep the troops almost constantly in a state of privation. 

* General Lee's Report. 



236 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

The amount of transportation at hand was inadequate to the 
wants of the army, and the supplies of ammunition were lim- 
ited. 

Nevertheless, the advantages which a sudden offensive move- 
ment offered, were believed, to outweigh these disadvantages, 
and General Lee determined to cross the Potomac and enter 
Maryland without delay. As long as the enemy remained 
south of the Potomac, they would endanger his communica- 
tions. To force them to withdraw to the Washington side of 
the river, Lee resolved to cross the border east of the Blue 
Eidge, by which movement he would threaten both Washington 
and Baltimore. This accomplished, and Virginia freed from 
the presence of the Federal army, he proposed to move his 
forces into Western Maryland, establish his communications 
with Richmond througli the Shenandoah Valley, " and, by 
threatening Pennsylvania, induce the enemy to follow," and 
thus draw them from their base of supplies.* 

The army was now united, D. H. Hill's command having 
arrived on the 2d of September, while the troops were enjoying 
a brief rest at Chantilly. 

On the 4th of September, D. H. Hill's division, which had 
been assigned the advance was moved to the Potomac, which 
it reached at a point nearly opposite the mouth of the Monocacy. 
The Federal forces along the river were driven off, and the 
division crossed over. The night and next day were spent in 
destroying the locks and embankment of the Chesapeake and 
Ohio Canal, one of the principal means of supplying Washing- 
ton with fuel.f 

On the 5th of September Jackson's corps crossed the river, 
at White's Ford, and bivouacked near the Three Springs, in 
the State of Maryland. D. H. Hill immediately resumed his 
march, and followed Jackson. By the 7th of September the 

* General Lee's Report. f Reports of Generals Lee and D. H. Hill. 



OVER THE BORDER. 237 

entire army was over the Potomac, and in the enemy's country. 
The passage of the river was made with thrilling cheers, waving 
flags, and martial music, and amidst unbounded enthusiasm. 
The troops regarded themselves as the avengers of an outraged 
and injured people, and they were in high spirits at the prospect 
of transferring the war from their own soil to that of the enemy. 

On the morning of the 6th, the march was resumed, the 
advance being conducted by General D. H. Hill, who, in the 
absence of General Jackson, (temporarily disabled by a fall 
from his horse,) commanded Jackson's corps, as well as his 
own division.* 

During the morning the army reached Frederick City. The 
troops were encamped between the city and the Monocacy 
Eiver, Swell's and Hill's divisions being posted at Monocacy 
Station, on the Baltimore and Ohio Kailroad, to cover the 
roads from Washington. Only one brigade (J. R. Jones') 
was allowed to enter the city, and that one was sent there to 
protect the inhabitants and their property. Strict orders were 
issued requiring the troops to respect the property of the peo2>le 
of the State, and threatening with severe punishment those who 
attempted to pillage or destroy. The people were assured that 
the Confederate army had come amongst them as friends. No 
man's possessions were taken from him. Whatever was wanted 
was paid for — in Confederate money it is true, but still with 
an expression of willingness on the part of the vendors to re- 
ceive the Southern currency. Even the fence rails burned by 
the soldiers . were carefully paid for. No man's liberty was 
assailed, and the troops were strictly charged to treat persons 
holding hostile sentiments with kindness and forbearance. The 
City of Frederick was patrolled by a strong provost guard, but 
its presence was unnecessary, as not a single case of misde- 
meanor occurred during the stay of the Southern army. 

* Report of General D. H. Hill. 



238 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

The Northern people were astonished at such a course on the 
part of the Southerners. They had expected that a Confeder- 
ate invasion would be marked by such scenes as have made the 
reputation of Pope's army infamous, and they could not conceal 
tlieir surprise at the forbearance and generosity of the ' ' ragged 
rebels." 

When it is remembered that the Confederate army had just 
seen the fair fields of Virginia devastated, and their friends and 
kindred plundered, insulted, and frequently driven from their 
homes amid suffering and danger, by the Union troops, and 
that now they were in the enemy's country, with the memory 
of these things still burning in their hearts, surrounded by 
plenty, which they might have appropriated in spite of General 
Lee's orders to the contrary, a proper appreciation may be 
formed of their conduct. They triumphed nobly over the worst 
instincts of an army, and by their heroism, — heroism not less 
high than that shown by them in battle — they have won a 
glorious name. It must have been a proud moment for Gen- 
eral Lee when he saw this, for he must have known that his 
troops were influenced as much by their love for him, as by 
their sense of right and justice. They were not willing to bring 
discredit upon either themselves or their commander. 

The reception of the troops in Maryland was not what they 
had anticipated. The majority of the people of Western Mary- 
land were thoroughly loyal to the Union, so that the friends of 
the Confederate army in that region were but few. The Union- 
ists made no secret of their dislike of the South, and comforted 
themselves by informing the troops that McCIellan would soon 
be after them. The secessionists in some cases did what they 
could to encourage and aid the army, but in many instances 
their Southern ardor was checked by the sight of the ragged 
and dirty soldiers, whose personal appearance spoke eloquently 
of greater suffering and hardship than these ' ' gentlemen " were 



OVER THE BORDER. 239 

willing to undergo. During the first days, recruiting offices 
were opened in Frederick, but recruits came in with marvellous 
slowness. 

It was amidst these discouraging circumstances that General 
Lee issued the following address to the people of the State : 

" Headquarters Armt of Northern Virginia, 
Near rREDERicicxowN, Sept. 8tli, 1862. 

" To THE People of Maryland : 

'* It is right that you should know the purpose that has 
brought the army under my command within the limits of your 
State, so far as that purpose concerns yourselves. 

" The people of the Confederate States have long watched, 
with the deepest sympathy, the wrongs and outrages that have 
been inflicted upon the citizens of a commonwealth allied to the 
States of the South by the strongest social, political, and com- 
mercial ties. 

"They have seen, with profound indignation, their sister 
State deprived of every right, and reduced to the condition of a 
conquered province. 

" Under the pretence of supporting the Constitution, but in 
violation of its most valuable provisions, your citizens have 
been arrested and imprisoned upon no charge, and contrary to 
all forms of law. The faithful and manly protest against this 
outrage, made by the venerable and illustrious Marylander, to 
whom, in better days, no citizen appealed for right in vain, was 
treated with scorn and contempt. The government of your 
chief city has been usurped by armed strangers ; your Legisla- 
ture has been dissolved by the unlawful arrest of its members ; 
freedom of the press and of speech have been suppressed ; 
words have been declared offences by an arbitrary decree of the 
Federal Executive, and citizens ordered to be tried by a mili- 
• commission for what they may dare to speak. 



240 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

" Belleviii!:^ that the people of Maryland possessed a spirit 
too lofty to submit to such a Government, the people of the 
South have long wished to aid you in throwing off this foreign 
yoke, to enable you again to enjoy the inalienable rights of 
freemen, and restore independence and sovereignty to your 
.State. 

" In obedience to this wish, our army has come among you, 
and is prepared to assist you with the power of its arms, in re- 
gaining the rights of which you have been despoiled. This, 
citizens of Maryland, is our mission, so far as you are con- 
cerned. No constraint upon your free will is intended, — no 
intimidation will be allowed. We know no enemies among 
you, and will protect all, of every opinion. It is for you to de- 
cide your destiny, freely and without constraint. This army 
will respect your choice whatever it may be ; and while the 
Southern people will rejoice to welcome you to your natural po- 
sition amongst them, they will only v/elcome you when you 
come of your own free will. 

"R. E. Lee, Gen. Commanding." 

This proclamation was read with interest by the people of 
Maryland, but it brought no recruits. 

Certain Southern writers have taken it upon themselves to 
denounce the people of Maiyland with great bitterness for not 
rising against the Federal authorities, in response to this pro- 
clamation. This, however, is unfair. I have shown that Gen- 
eral Lee himself did not expect any movement on the part of 
the people until he had shown himself able to assist and pro- 
tect them. Unfortunately he was compelled to enter a portion 
of Maryland, where it was known that no sympathy w^as felt 
for the Southern cause. The friends of the South were in 
Eastern and Southern Maryland, and between them and Fred- 
erick City lay the Federal army, holding every road by which 



OVER THE BORDER. 241 

the people could move to join General Lee. Moreover, the in- 
vasion of the State was then simply an experiment which had 
to prove itself a success before the people could have faith in it. 
General Lee was not in a condition to afford the slightest as- 
sistance to the Southern men of Maryland, and it would have 
been madness in them to attempt an uprising. Had General 
Lee been able to reach Baltimore or Prince George County, T 
do not doubt that his army would have been greatly increased 
in a very short time. Still, these things were not known to the 
troops at the time, and their disappointment in finding so few 
friends and so many enemies was very bitter. 

When General Lee adopted his plan of the campaign, he 
counted on carrying his whole army with him. He was des- 
tined to be greatly disappointed in this. During the march 
from Manassas to the Potomac, thousands of Confederate sol- 
diers straggled from the ranks, and threw themselves down by 
the wayside, leaving the army to move on without them. 
Many of these men — the majority of them — were unable to 
continue the march. Want of rest and food, the severe march- 
ing and fighting, added to their past hardships, had exhausted 
them. Especially was this straggling caused by the want of 
shoes. The most of the men Avere barefooted, and their feet 
were so mangled by the sharp rocks of the road, tliat they 
could not walk. Many were rendered lame for months, some 
for life, by trying to keep up with the army In spite of their 
sufferings. Still there were others — to the number of thou- 
sands — who lagged behind from the vilest of motives. The 
lack of discipline in the Southern army was painfully instanced 
here. 

When General Lee was informed of the full extent of this 
evil, he was startled by a sense of the danger in which it placed 
him, and exclaimed with tears, " My army is ruined by strag- 
gling." 

31 



242 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 



n. 

THE CAPTURE OF HARPER'S FERRY. 

The entrance to the Valley of Virginia was guarded by the 
position of Harper's Ferry. With this post in possession of a 
Federal garrison, an invasion of Maryland from the Valley, 
was an impossibility. But when the Confederates had entered 
Maryland Harper's Ferry not only became useless to the Fed- 
erals, but also constituted a trap in which the whole garrison 
might be shut up and captured. A sound military policy 
would have dictated an immediate evacuation of the post as 
soon as General Lee passed the Potomac, but General Halleck, 
under whose immediate orders the Federal troops at Harper's 
Ferry had been placed, for some reason attached an exagger- 
ated value to the position, and ordered that it should be held. 
The garrison consisted of about nine thousand men, under Col- 
onel Miles. Martinsburg was held by a force of twenty-five 
hundred men, under General White. 

General Lee supposed that his adversary, in accordance with 
the plainest rules of common sense, as well as military silence, 
would withdraw tlie garrison from Harper's Ferry. General 
McClellan constantly urged this, but General Halleck decided 
upon holding the post. This being the case. General Lee 
could not establish his communications through the Valley with- 
out driving away or capturing Colonel Miles' command. He 
resolved to attempt its capture. Thus he was compelled to 
turn aside from his original plan, to undertake this important 
expedition, and this with his army so greatly weakened by the 
straggling of the troops. So it happened, strangely enough, 
that this blunder of General Halleck became a real disad- 



THE CAPTURE OF HARPER'S FERRY. 243 

vantage to the Confederate commander, inasmuch as it clogged 
and hindered his movements, and enabled General McClellan 
to come up with him and strike a blow at him under circum- 
stances most unfavorable to the Confederate army. 

In order to reduce Harper's Ferry, General Jackson was 
directed to march on tlie 10th of September, and, after passing 
Middleton, take the route to the Potomac, crossing the river at 
the most convenient point, and, after driving the enemy from 
Martinsburg, move direct upon Harper's Ferry, disposing his 
forces in such a manner as to cut off the reti'eat of the garrison 
to the North. At the same time General McLaws, with his 
own and R. H. Anderson's divisions, was ordered to seize 
Maryland Heights, on the north side of the Potomac, opposite 
Harper's Ferry, and General Walker was ordered to take pos- 
session of Loudon Heights, at the intersection of the Shenan- 
doah and Potomac Rivers. When Harper's Ferry was reduced, 
and the Valley cleared of the enemy, these commands were to 
rgoin General Lee at Boonsboro or Hagerstown.* 

General Jackson commenced his march from Frederick City 
on the 10th of September, and recrossed the Potomac at Light's 
Ford, near Williarasport, the next day. Hill's division moved 
on the turnpike direct to Martinsburg, while Ewell's and Jack- 
son's divisions moved to the North Mountain depot on the 
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, about seven miles northwest of 
Martinsburg, where they bivouacked for the night. Alarmed 
by the approach of these forces, the Federils rv.icu.ited Mai-- 
tinaburg during the night, and fell back to Harper's Ferry. 

On the morning of the 12th, General Jackson entered Mar- 
tinsburg, capturing a large quantity of stores abandoned by the 
enemy. Pressing on during the day, he came in sight of the 
enemy's outer line on Bolivar Heights, in the rear of Harper's 
Ferry, the next morning, the 13th, at eleven o'clock. General 

* General Lee's Beport. 



244 LITE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Hill, who led the advance, went into camp near Halltown, 
about two miles from Bolivar Heights. The other divisions 
encamped near by, and General Jackson set to work to ascer- 
tain if Walker and McLaws had arrived. No answer to his 
signals being returned from the opposite mountains, he dis- 
patched couriers to Maryland and Loudon Heights, to learn if 
the troops of McLaws and Walker were in position. 

General Walker crossed the Potomac on the night of the 
10th, at Point of Rocks, and moved rapidly on Loudon 
Heights, which were successfully occupied on the night of the 
13tli. General Jackson's courier reached him soon after the 
arrival of his column on the heights, and he retui'ned answer to 
General Jackson, announcing his presence. Walker's arrival 
was discovered on the morning of the 14th, and the enemy 
at once opened on him with their batteries. Walker replied, 
and cannonaded the town for about two hours, his fire 
doing some damage to the Federals. 

The task assigned to General McLaws was more difficult. 
Maryland Heights is the name given to the extreme southern 
portion of Elk Ridge, lying immediately on the Potomac, oppo- 
site Harper's Ferry. The town of Harper's Ferry is com- 
pletely commanded by these heights, which were fortified and held 
by the enemy. When General Halleck ordered Colonel Miles to 
hold Harper's Ferry, the latter officer should have withdrawn at 
once to Maryland Heights, where he could have maintained his 
position until McClellan's arrival. He did not do this, but 
remained in the town with his main body, holding the heights 
with a small part of his force. General McLaws' duty was to 
drive off this force and capture the heights, when it would be 
impossible for the garrison at Harper's Ferry to hold out, and 
their escape being cut off, they would be obliged to surrender. 

McLaws marched on the 11th, and on the 12th arrived in 
iiont of the Federal position on Maryland Heights, in the 



THE CAPTURE OF HARPER's FERRY. 245 

tiieantime taking care to occupy the passes in Soutli Mountain 
"by which the enemy at Wasliington conld send assistance to 
Harper's Ferry. He at once opened the attack, driving in the 
Federal skirmishers until darkness put an end to the conflict. 
The inhabitants of the country informed him that the Federal 
position on the heights was very strong, and defended by 
powerful artillery, thus causing General McLaws to advance 
cautiously, and more slowly than he would have done but for 
these reports, in which the people all agreed, but which proved 
in the end to be false. 

The next morning, the 13th, he renewed his advance, and, 
after a sharp and spirited engagement through dense woods and 
over a rough and rugged country, succeeded in carrying the 
enemy's main line, which was very strong, and, by half past 
four in the afternoon, gained possession of the heights. He at 
once disposed his troops from Maryland Heights to Sandy 
Hook, about a mile below, on the river, commanding the town 
and cutting off the escape of the garrison.* 

General Jackson had expected that all the troops would reach 
their positions in time to enable him to storm the enemy's works 
on the 13th, which would have enabled him to rejoin General 
Lee on the 14th. The divisions not being in place until it was 
too late to make the attack, he deferred it until the next day. 

The Federals held a strong position, strengthened by Avell 
constructed works on Bolivar Heiofhts, extendino; from near the 
Shenandoah to the Potomac. While they held these works 
very little could be done by McLaws' and Walker, as their 
guns but imperfectly commanded this line. To remedy this, 
General Jackson determined to force the Federals from Bolivar 
Heights back into the town of Harper's Ferry. 

Accordingly General Hill, who held the right was ordered to 
move down the left bank of the Shenandoah, turn the enemy's 

* General McLaws' Report. 



246 lilFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

left flank, and gain the town. E well's division was to move 
alono- the turnpike, to support Hill, and Jackson's division was 
to make a demonstration on the Federal right at the same time, 
while the cavalry, under Major Massie, were to operate between 
Jackson's left and the Potomac and prevent the garrison from 
escaping up the river. 

Durino; the afternoon of the 14th, the " Stonewall briorade" 
attacked the enemy's right, driving in their cavalry and secur- 
ing an eminence to the left of Bolivar Heights, and near the 
Potomac, which was immediately occupied by the batteries of 
Poague and Carpenter. At the same time, A. P. Hill's divi- 
sion moved down the Shenandoah to turn the enemy's left. 
' ' Observing an eminence crowning the extreme left " of the 
Federal line, " occupied by infantry, but without artillery and 
protected only by an abatis of fallen timber, Pender, Archer, 
and Brockenborough were ordered to gain the crest of that hill, 
while Branch and Gregg were directed to march along the river, 
and, during the night, to take advantage of the ravines, cutting 
tlie precipitous banks of the river, and establish themselves on 
the plain to the left and rear of the enemy's works." * E well's 
division moved along the turnpike in three columns, one on the 
road and one on each side of it, until it reached Halltown, 
where it was formed in line of battle, by its commander. Gen- 
eral Lawton. Continuing to advance, the division reached and 
occupied School House Hill, immediately in front of the Fed- 
eral works, where it bivouacked for the night. During the 
night, Colonel Crutchfield, Jackson's Chief of Artillery, crossed 
ten guns of Ewell's division to the opposite side of the Shen- 
andoah, and established them in a position from which they 
could enfilade the enemy's line. The remainder of the artillery 
belonging to this division was posted on School House Hill. 

The investment of Harper's Ferry was now complete, and 

* Gen. Jackson's Report. 



THE CAPTURE OF HARPER'S FERRY. 247 

that niojht Jackson slcjnalled to Generals McLaws and Walker 
his famous message — "I have occupied and now hold the 
enemy's first line of intrenchments, and, with the blessing of 
God, will capture the whole force early in the morning." 

As the day dawned, on the morning of the 15th of September, 
Jackson's artillery opened upon the Federals. The batteries 
on School House Hill attacked the enemy in front, Poague's 
and Carpenter's guns opened from the right, followed by the 
guns sent over the Shenandoah, in the rear of the enemy, by 
Colonel Crutchfield, and finally by the batteries on Loudon and 
Maryland Heights. The cannonade was terrific, the most of 
the guns being scarcely a thousand yards from the Federal 
works. 

In about an hour the Federal guns seemed to be silenced. 
Immediately the batteries of Hill's division ceased firing, and 
the infantry moved forward to storm the works. Pender's 
brigade had scarcely commenced to advance when the Federal 
artillery again opened, and the batteries of Pegram and Cren- 
shaw dashed forward and poured a heavy fire into the enemy. 

A white flag now fluttered from the Federal works, and im- 
mediately the Southern guns ceased firing, and the advance 
of the infantry was checked. A message was received from 
General White, (Colonel Miles having been mortally wounded,) 
announcing his readiness to capitulate, and shortly afterwards 
the post and garrison were formally surrendered to General 
Jackson, General A. P. Hill conducting the negotiations. The 
terms accorded were liberal. The officers and men were 
paroled, and allowed to retain all their personal effects, and the 
former their side-arms, transportation being furnished them for 
the removal of their property. 

Eleven thousand troops were surrendered, together with 
seventy-three pieces of artillery, thirteen thousand stand of 
arms, two hundred wagons, and a large amount of stores. 
Jackson's loss was small. 



248 LIFE or GENERAL LEE. 

In the meantime events of great importance had occurred 
beyond Elk Ridge, and General Jackson was met immediately 
after the surrender of Harper's Ferry by an order from General 
Lee to hasten to rejoin him with all speed. Leaving General 
Hill to receive the surrender, and superintend the removal of 
the captured property, and directing McL,aws and Walker to 
follow as rapidly as possible, Jackson at once set off to rejoin 
General Lee, and by a severe night march came up with him 
at Sharpsburg on the morning of the 16th. 

It is necessary now to go back to the time when the army 
left Frederick City. 



III. 
SOUTH MOUNTAIN. 

When General Lee entered Maryland his design was not to 
make a direct attack on either Washington or Baltimore, but to 
manoeuvre so as to draw McClellan away towards the Cumber- 
land Valley, thus forcing him to uncover those cities, when 
General Lee could either elude McClellan and fall suddenly 
upon them, or force the Young Napoleon to fight at such a 
distance from his base of operations. 

In accordance with this plan he moved from Frederick, on 
the 10th, after Jackson had started, and passing South Moun- 
tain, marched towards Boonsboro, leaving General Stuart with 
the cavalry east of the mountains to watch the movements of 
the Federal army, which was known to be slowly approaching. 
A report having been received that the enemy were approach- 
ing from the direction of Chambersburgh, Pennsylvania, Gen- 
eral LonfTstreet was sent to Hafjerstown to watch them and 
hold them in check, while D. H. Hill halted near Boonsboro to 



SOUTH MOUNTAIN. / 249 

prevent the escape of the garrison of Harper's Ferry through 
Pleasant Valley, and to support the cavalry.* It was confi- 
dently expected that Harper's Ferry would fall on the 13th, 
and the advance of the Federal array was so slow that General 
Lee expected to capture that place and reunite his columns 
before McClellan could arrive. Then the army would move 
towards Pennsylvania. 

In the meantime the Federals had not been idle. When the 
defeated remnants of Pope's army crowded into the lines of 
Washington, it became necessary to find a leader who could 
restore order and confidence to the troops, and place them once 
more in the field. There was but one man who could do this 
— for he was the only one in whom the army yet retained con- 
fidence — and that was General McClellan. After his with- 
drawal from the James he had been reduced to the command 
of the defences of the Capital, to the great delight of his ene- 
mies. Now, amidst the dismay of his Government, every one 
pointed to him as the only commander capable of offering any 
resistance to the victorious Southern legions. President Lin- 
coln requested him to resume the command of the Army of the 
Potomac, placing at his disposal all of the troops around Wash- 
ington. General McClellan promptly resumed his former po- 
sition, and commenced with energy to put the army in condition 
for active service. The remains of his old army and that of 
General Pope were organized into one compact body. Hooker 
was assigned to the command of the 1st corps (McDowell's old 
corps) ; the 9th corps of Burnside's old force, was under Gen- 
eral Reno. The 12th corps, formerly commanded by Banks, 
was given to General Mansfield. General Burnside's corps 
was also brought up from Fredericksburg, and united with 
McClellan's forces. f 

• General Lee's Report. 

t Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 197. 
32 



250 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

On the 5th of September, as soon as it was known that Gen- 
eral Lee had crossed into Maryland, General McClellan moved 
forward from Washington towards Frederick City to meet him. 
His advance was made by five parallel roads, the Army of the 
Potomac being disposed so as to cover both Washington and 
Baltimore. The left flank rested on the Potomac, and the 
rif^ht on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The command of 
the right wing was given to General Burnside, General Sumner 
held the centre, and General Franklin the left wing. The ef- 
fective strength of this army was eighty-seven thousand one 
hundred and sixty-four men of all arms.* 

The emergency was so great that the work of reorganization 
had to be done while the troops were on the march. It was 
well done, and reflects the highest credit upon General McClel- 
lan, to whom alone it was due. He displayed more energy 
than he had ever shown, and it was no slight achievement to 
take command of a mutinous and demoralized army, just after 
a crushing defeat, and in ten days be in front of the enemy with 
a solid and reorganized command. 

General McClellan, being in utter ignorance of Lee's inten- 
tions, moved very slowly and with great caution. He was cer- 
tain of one thing only — that General Lee would attempt to 
capture the garrison of Harper's Ferry, and he repeatedly 
urged his Government either to order its withdrawal, or place 
it under his command, in order that he might remove it from 
the danger which threatened it. His requests were unheeded 
at first, but finally the garrison was placed under his command. 
It was tlien too late, however, to save it, as the sequel proved. 
Moving on cautiously he reached Frederick on the 12th of 
September, driving out the cavalry that had been left there by 
General Stuart to watch him. On the 13th, by a piece of ex- 
traordinary good fortune. General McClellan gained possession 

♦ Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 198. 



SOUTH MOUNTAIN. 251 

of General Lee's confidential order to General D. H. Hill, giv- 
ing the plan of the campaign. This order had been lost by 
General Hill near Frederick, and found by some person in the 
Federal advanced forces, when the vicinity of Frederick was 
occupied by them.* 



• The order was as follows : 



' SPECIAL OUDERS, 
NO. 191. 



•> HXADQVABTKXa ABKT OF NOBTHKir ViROIinA, 

September 9, 1862. 



"The army will resume its march to-morrow, taking the Hagerstown road. 
General Jackson's command will form the advance, and after passing Middle- 
ton, with such portion as he may select, will take the route towards Sharps- 
burg, cross the Potomac at the most convenient point and by Friday night 
take possession of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, capture such of the en- 
emy as may be at Martinsburg, and intercept such as may attempt to escape 
from Harper's Ferry. 

"General Longstreet's command will pursue the same road as far as Boons- 
boro, where it will halt with the reserve, supply and baggage trains of the army. 

"General McLaws, with his own division and that of General R. II. Ander- 
son, will follow General Longstreet. On reaching Middleton, he will take the 
route to llarper's Ferry, and by Friday morning possess himself of the Mary- 
land Heights, and endeavor to capture the enemy at Harper's Ferry and vi- 
cinity. 

" General Walker, with his division, after accomplishing the object in 
which he is now engaged, will cross the Potomac at Cheek's Ford, and ascend 
its right bjink to Lovettsville, take possession of Loudon Heiglits if practicable, 
by Friday morning. Key's Ford on his left, and the road between the end of 
the mountain, and the Potomac on his right. He will, as far as practicable, 
cooperate with General McLaws and General Jackson, in intercepting the re- 
treat of the enemy. 

" General D. H. Hill's division will form the rear-guard of the army, pursu- 
ing the road taken by the main body. The reserve artillery, ordnance, and 
suppl}' trains, &c., will precede General Hill. 

"General Stuart will detach a squadron of cavalry to accompany the com- 
mands of General Longstreet, Jackson, and McLaws, and with the main body 
of the cavalry will cover the route of the army, and bring up all stragglers 
that may have been left behind. 

" The commands of Generals Jackson, McLaws, and Walker, after accom- 
plishing the objects for which they have been detached, will join the main 
body of the army at Boonsboro or Hagerstown. 



252 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

The possession of this document was of the greatest value to 
General MeClellan. It furnished him with an accurate de- 
scription of General Lee's designs, showed him the disposition 
of Lee's forces, and gave him an advantage over the Southern 
army which the reader will readily appreciate, and which should 
have resulted in the destruction of the Army of Northern Vir- 
ginia, — in short, that army was, by the discovery of this order, 
placed at the mercy of General MeClellan. 

The Federal commander resolved to press his advantage, and 
at once urged forward his army. He meant to secure the 
passes of South Mountain, and throw his forces into Pleasant 
Valley, where they could fall upon the divided Confederate 
force, beat it in detail, and rescue the garrison of Harper's 
Ferry from the clutches of Stonewall Jackson. 

JNIcClellan advanced rapidly, and on the afternoon of the 
13th, while McLaws and Walker were getting into position at 
Harper's Ferry, arrived in front of the passes of South Moun- 
tain, driving back the cavalry, who exerted themselves to im- 
pede his progress In order to give General Lee time to bring up 
troops to dispute the passage of the mountains. 

After leaving the Potomac, beginning at the northern shore 
of that river, and extending through Pennsylvania, the great 
range of the Blue Ridge is called the South Mountain. Two 
miles further westward is the range known as Maryland 
Heights. The country lying between these two ranges is 
named Pleasant Valley, and is from two to three miles in 
width. It is very rugged, and almost Alpine in its character. 
There are two roads leading from Frederick City to the western 

'• Each regiment, on the march, will habitually carry its axes in the regi- 
mental ordnance wagons, for use of the men at their encampments, to procure 
wood. 

*' By command of General K. E. Lee, 
R. H, Chilton, A. A. General," 

"Majob-Genebal D. H. Hill, Comd'g Division." 



SOUTH MOUNTAIN. 253 

part of the State — the main, or Hagerstown road, which 
passes the South Mountain at Turner's Gap, near the village 
»f Boonsboro, and another which passes the mountain at 
Crampton's Gap about five or six miles ftirther to the south. 
These passes are very strong, and are impregnable against 
direct attacks if properly defended. They may be turned, 
iiowever, by mountain roads leading to positions commanding 
them, high upon the sides of the mountain. 

When General McCIellan learned the object of Lee's move- 
ments and the disposition of his forces, he determined to throw 
his centre and right against the pass leading to Boonsboro ; 
while Franklin's corps should force the passage of Crampton's 
Gap, attack McLaws in the rear, drive him off, and rescue the 
garrison of Harper's Ferry. 

General Lee was informed of the presence of the enemy at 
South Mountain on the afternoon of the 13th of September, 
The suddenness of the movement surprised him, for it showed a 
clear conception by General McCIellan of Lee's designs, and 
the latter was as yet ignorant of the fate of his order to General 
D. H. Hill. Seeing the danger which threatened him, General 
Lee ordered General D. H. Hill to occupy Turner's Gap, and 
prevent the enemy from passing through. Up to this time 
nothing had been heard from Harper's Ferry, and it was still be- 
lieved by General Lee that the place would fall that day — the 
thirteenth. He had counted on reuniting his army after the fall 
of that place before McCIellan could arrive, and but for the dis- 
covery made by the latter at Frederick, he would have done so. 
It was a part of his original plan to draw the enemy from their 
base of supplies, and as a means of doing this, he had intended 
to permit McCIellan to pass South Mountain unmolested. His 
troops were disposed with this intention on the 13th. Now, 
however, it was necessary to hold the mountain passes until Har- 
1)61 's Ferry should fall, and to keep McCIellan east of the moun- 
tfnng until the army was prepared to reunite before him. 



254 LIFE OF GENEKAL LEE. 

Accordingly General D. H. Hill was informed of the danger 
which threatened the army, and instructed to hold his ground as 
lono- as possible. General Hill at first sent back the brigades 
of Garland and Colquitt, but subsequently learning that the 
enemy were in heavy force, moved his whole division to the 
Gap. General Lee ordered General Longstreet to march at 
once to Hill's support. 

General Hill had been informed by General Stuart that only 
two brigades of the enemy were threatening the pass, and that 
one brigade would be sufficient to hold it.* A personal inspec- 
tion, however, satisfied him that if he wished to hold it he 
must use his whole division, which he at once ordered up. 
Had the Federals, who came in front of the pass in heavy force 
on the afternoon of the 13th, attacked the position at once, it 
must have fallen, as it was wholly at their mercy, being de- 
fended by less than two thousand men. The bold front 
assumed by Hill induced them to await the arrival of their main 
body. 

Hill's division was only five thousand strong, and much too 
weak to hold the position properly. It could occupy the pass 
itself, but could afford very little protection to the two mountain 
roads, — the one on the right and the other on the left of the 
pass, — by which it might be turned. The I'oad on the right 
led to a sharp, jagged peak which commanded the whole posi- 
tion. Should the enemy seize this point, it would be impossible 
to hold the mountain, f 

About seven o'clock in the morning, the enemy (Reno's 
corps) opened a sharp artillery fire on the Southern right, 
having yet failed to see the importance of the peak on their 
left. Soon after the cannonade began, General Reno pushed 
forward a strong column through the heavy woods, and endeav- 
ored to seize the road leading to the right of the pass. The 

* General D. H. Hill's Report. t General D. H. Hill's Report 



SOUTH MOUNTAIN. 255 

attack was made by Garland's brigade, which at first checked 
tlie Federal advance, but General Garland being killed, his 
brigade became demoralized, and was forced back, and Reno's 
men, pressing on, occupied the first ridge on the side of the 
mountain. Had they continued to press on, tliey could have 
gained the road. They were, however, too much injured to 
pursue their advantage, having suffered severely from the fire 
of Garland's men, losing their commander, General Reno, an 
able officer. 

General Hill promptly moved up Anderson's brigade to take 
the place of Garland's troops. Andei'son was ordered to hold 
the road for which vthe enemy were contending, and Colonel 
Rosser, with his regiment of cavalry, dismounted as sharp- 
shooters, and a battery of artillery, was directed to hold a moun- 
tain-path still farther to the right. At the same time General 
Hill ordered Colquitt's brigade and two batteries to support An- 
derson, and moved several guns to a point commanding the 
appi'oaches to the peak on his left, and the right of the pass. 

The enemy now began to appreciate the importance of the 
peak, and made several attempts to seize the road leading to it, 
all of which were repulsed by Hill. Rodes' brigade was or- 
dered by General Hill to occupy the peak. Heavy skirmishing 
continued between the opposing forces, and about three o'clock 
in the afternoon the advanced briijades of Lono-street's com- 
mand, under General Drayton and Colonel G. T. Anderson, 
arrived. They brought about one thousand nine hundred men 
with them. Hill's single division had held the enemy in check 
nearly eight hours, and he was anxious to defeat them before 
they could commence their principal attack. 

In the meantime the Federals collected rapidly in front of 
Hill's position. By two o'clock in the afternoon the entire 
command of General Burnside, consisting of Reno's and Hook- 
er's corps, fully thirty thousand strong, had arrived. The 



256 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

importance of the pccak on the Southern left had by this time 
become fully appreciated, and General Burnside now directed 
his efforts against it. Hooker's corps led the assault, which 
was made about four o'clock. 

General Hill, wishing to prevent this movement, had col- 
lected on his right the brigades of Ripley, Anderson, and 
Drayton, and thrown them upon Reno's corps. Drayton's 
brigade was repulsed and driven in disorder, but Anderson and 
Ripley maintained their ground, checking the efforts of the 
enemy to advance their line. 

While this was going on, Hooker made a sharp attack on the 
Confederate left held by the brigade of General Rodes. The 
ground was very difficult, and of such a character that the 
enemy in advancing were almost entirely sheltered from the fire 
of Rodes' artillery. The infantry of this gallant brigade 
inflicted severe loss upon the Federals, and gallantly contested 
the ground inch by inch. For several hours this single brigade 
of twelve hundred men repulsed the impetuous assaults of 
Hooker's corps, but, towards dark. Hooker, whose superior 
strength enabled him to extend his flanks so as almost to envel- 
ope Rodes' command, succeeded in fiarcing back the little band, 
and gaining the crest of the peak, the key point to Hill's whole 
position. Darkness now put an end to the battle. 

Longstreet's main column reached the pass about four o'clock 
in the afternoon, and his troops were posted on the right and 
left of the turnpike, about the centre of Hill's line. They soon 
became actively engaged, although much exhausted by their 
long and severe march, and succeeded in repulsing the assaults 
of the enemy on the centre. 

When the battle ended, the enemy had been repulsed in their 
assaults on Hill's centre, and driven back some distance on 
the right, but on the left they had carried the peak held by 
Rodes' brigade, and this placed the entire Southern line at their 



SOUTH MOUNTAIN. 257 

mercy. The position could no longer be maintained success- 
fully, and it was necessary for the Southern army to retire from 
it before the attack could be renewed by the enemy in the 
morning. Besides this, the necessity for holding the mountain 
was now at an end. General Lee had been informed by Gen- 
eral Jackson that Harper's Ferry would undoubtedly be cap- 
tured the next day. He therefore resolved to retire from South 
Mountain, and take position at Sharpsburg, where he would 
be on the flank of any force moving through Pleasant Valley 
upon McLaws on Maryland Pleights, and be able to reunite his 
divided columns successfully. His position there would also 
command the fords of the Potomac, and keep open his line of 
retreat into Virginia in case of disaster. Accordingly the 
troops were withdrawn during the night towards Antietam 
Creek. 

While the battle was going on at Turner's Gap, events of no 
less importance were transpiring at Crampton's Gap, about six 
miles to the southward. Franklin reached this position about 
nine or ten o'clock on the morning of the 14th, and at once 
made his dispositions for attack, throwing forward both of his 
divisions, Slocum's on the right and Smith's on the left. 

The position was held by a weak brigade of McLaws' divi- 
sion, under General Howell Cobb. General McLaws was under 
the impression that the pass was threatened by a very small force 
of the enemy. He was confirmed in this opinion by General 
Stuart's assertion that he did not believe the enemy's force 
amounted to more than a brigade.* Stuart had been watchinff 
the Federal advance, and being deceived himself, had misin- 
formed both D. H. Hill and McLaws as to the character of the 
Federal movements. General Cobb's three brigades had been 
posted at the Gap only a few hours, when Franklin made his 

* General McLaws' Report. 
38 



258 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

attack. He was instructed by General McLaws to hold his 
position " if he lost his last man in doing it." 

Franklin made a sharp attack, and met with a gallant resist- 
ance. It was vain for three small brigades to attempt to hold 
such a force in check. Yet it took three hours for Franklin to 
dislodge Cobb and carry the pass, which was attended with a 
loss of four hundred prisoners, seven hundred stand of arms 
and one piece of artillery on the part of the Confederates. 

The news that the Federals had forced Crarapton's Gap, took 
General McLaws by surprise, and placed him in a difficult posi- 
tion. His retreat up Pleasant Valley was cut off, and Harper's 
Ferry still held out. Should he retire along the river shore at 
the base of Maiyland Heights, Franklin would fall upon his 
rear, and the garrison at Harper's Ferry would almost destroy 
his command as it moved under their fire. To attempt to 
retreat eastward would be to fall into the hands of the enemy. 
There was nothing to do but to defend his position as well as he 
was able. He at once moved all his force, except one regiment 
which he left to hold Maryland Heights opposite Harper's 
Ferry, and took position in Pleasant Valley, about a mile and 
a half from Crarapton's Gap, from which Franklin's troops 
were debouching into tlie Valley. By the time the Confederate 
line was formed the darkness checked the advance of the enemy. 

The next morning McLaws awaited Franklin's attack, but 
the latter, deceived by the bold front of the Confederates, pro- 
ceeded cautiously to select positions from which his artillery 
could command the Southern line. 

Durino^ the morninij General McLaws was informed that 
Harper's Ferry had surrendered, and was instructed by General 
Jackson to withdraw to the south side of the Potomac, and 
hasten to General Lee's assistance. McLaws performed the 
delicate task of retiring down the Valley with great skill. He 
crossed over to Harper's Ferry at two o'clock that afternoon, 



SHARPSBURG. 259 

and at eight the next morning encamped at Halltown to rest his 
men. Resuming his march on the 16th, he reached the army 
at Sharpsburg about sunrise on the morning of the 17th. 

The Confederate loss at South Mountain was severe, being 
about three thousand men, half of whom were prisoners. The 
enemy's loss was about eighteen hundred, including General 
Reno. 



IV. 
SHARPSBURG. 

Thus, although McClellan had greatly interfered with the 
Southern commander's plan of campaign, the resistance offered 
at South Mountain had enabled General Jackson to effect the 
capture of Harper's Ferry. The fix'st part of General McClel- 
lan's designs had been baffled, and it now remained but to try 
the issue of a general engagement. He moved his army 
through the passes abandoned by the Confederates on the night 
of the 14th, reaching the west side of the mountain about eight 
o'clock on the morning of the 15th. During the day he fol- 
lowed slowly the route taken by General Lee, skirmishing with 
the Confederate rear-guard along the greater part of the way. 
Towards the afternoon, his command was brought to a sudden 
halt by the discovery that the Confederate army was in position 
on the west bank of Antietam Creek, a small tributary of the 
Potomac lying immediately in front of Sharpsburg. 

I have shown how, by a series of adverse circumstances, 
General Lee was compelled to depart from his original plan of 
the campaign. First the retention of Harper's Ferry by the 
Federals, forced him to turn aside from the course he had 
marked out, and to lose much valuable time in the redaction 



260 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

of the place ; then the discovery of his programme by General 
McClellan gave the Union commander such an advantage that 
he ouo-ht to have destroyed the Confederate army. The bold 
resistance made by Hill and Longstreet at South Mountain, 
partly atoned for all this, but when the army reached tlie banks 
of the Antietam it was absolutely necessary to make a stand, in 
order to collect its scattered members. With the Federal army 
pressing on so closely, it was absolutely impossible to avoid a 
battle, whether General Lee wished to recross the river into 
Virginia or move against Pennsylvania. In any case the first 
necessity was to check the advance of the Federal army. 

The chances of such a battle were decidedly against General 
Lee. His command was greatly reduced in strength, and some- 
what disheartened by the unfavorable events of the campaign. 
When he reached Sharpsburg his entire army numbered less 
than forty thousand men — about thirty-three thousand in all. 
Of this force the commands of Jackson, McLaws, and Walker 
were absait. The Federal army was more than eighty thou- 
sand strong, and plentifully supplied with every necessity and 
most of the luxuries of a soldier, and had suffered less in every 
respect than that of the Confederates. 

The Southern army occupied the ground lying between the 
Potomac and Antietam — which come together, a short distance 
south of Sharpsburg, at an angle of about forty-five degrees — 
and covering the fords of the Potomac in the neighborhood of 
Shepherdstown. The troops were disposed immediately in front 
of Sharpsburg, along the west bank of the Antietam. Long- 
street's corps held the right, and was posted on the right of the 
Boonsboro turnpike, extending south of the town. D. H. Hill 
held the centre, and was posted on the left of the Boonsboro 
road, immediately in front of Sharpsburg. General Jackson, 
who arrived during the 16th, was posted on the left, the interval 
between his command and that of General D. H. Hill being 



SHARPSBURG. 261 

occupied by General Hood's division. Jackson's troops were at 
first held in reserve, and the countiy between the left and the 
Potomac was occupied by the cavalry, under General Stuart. 

There are three bridnes over the Antictam in the neighbor- 
hood of Sharpsburg. The lowest of these was in front of Gen- 
eral Longstreet's position, the other almost exactly opposite the 
Confederate centre, and the third several miles higher up the 
stream. The Confederate force was too weak to cover this 
bridge, also, and General Lee concluded that McClellan would 
take advantage of this, and attempt to turn his left flank by 
crossing at this unguarded bridge. 

The Federal army arrived on the left bank of the Antietam 
early in the afternoon of the fifteenth. General Lee had dis- 
posed his weak command to such advantage, that General Mc- 
Clellan decided to wait until his army was all on the ground 
before trying to force a passage of the creek. During the rest 
of the day and night his troops arrived. He formed his line 
with Burnside on his left, Porter in his centre, and Hooker, 
and Sumner on his right — Sumner having charge of his own 
corps and that of General Mansfield. A reconnoisance of the 
Confederate position revealed to the Federal commander the 
unguarded bridge, and, as General Lee had foreseen, he de- 
termined to throw his right wing over the creek at this point, 
and turn the Southern left. This duty he assigned to Hooker's 
corps, which was to be followed and supported by Sumner's 
two corps. The sixteenth was spent in occupying positions 
along the creek, it being his intention to force a direct pas- 
sage as soon as the attack of Hooker should succeed on his 
right. The artillery was posted at favorable points to silence 
the fire of the Southern guns, and assist the movements of the 
infantry. These arrangements consumed the morning of the 
16th. 

In order to divert attention from Hooker's movement, Mc- 



262 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Glellan opened his artillery along his left and centre. This was 
responded to by the batteries of D. H. Hill's divisions. The 
Federal batteries were superior in every respect to those of the 
Confederates, and the latter were soon silenced. 

Hooker commenced his march about four o'clock in the af- 
ternoon, and crossed the Antietam at the bridge I have men- 
tioned, out of range of the Southern artillery. In order to 
guard against this movement. General Lee had placed the two 
brigades under General Hood on his left. Hood's line extended 
across this flank, and formed almost an acute angle with the po- 
sition held by the rest of the army. Hooker attacked him about 
dusk, and Hood held his ground in a brisk skirmish which en- 
sued. Both commands passed the night on this part of the 
field, within musket shot of each other. During the night 
General McClellan threw Mansfield's corps across the Creek to 
Hooker's assistance, and ordered Sumner to follow with his 
own corps early in the morning. 

Hooker's attack revealed the design of the Federal com- 
mander, and General Lee ordered Jackson's corps, which had 
been held in reserve, to take position on Hood's left. This 
was promptly done. Jackson's right rested on the Hagerstown 
road, and his left extended toward the Potomac, protected by 
General Stuart with the cavalry and horse artillery.* At the 
same time Walker's two brigades were moved up on Long- 
street's right, and towards ten o'clock Hood's troops were re- 
lieved by Lawton's and Trimble's brigades of E well's division. 

The morning of the 17th of September was ushered in by a 
heavy cannonade from the Federal batteries on both sides of the 
Antietam. The position of those on the left bank enabled them 
to enfilade Jackson's line, and his troops suffered greatly from 
it. 

Under the cover of this fire. Hooker advanced his corps, 

♦General Lee's Report. 



SHARPSBURG. 263 

eighteen thousand strong, and made a vigorous effort to get 
possession of the Hagerstown road, and the woods to the west 
of it. To meet this attack Jackson had but two divisions, his 
own, under General J. R. Jones, and Ewcll's, under Lawton ; 
and his total strength was four thousand men, so greatly had 
the command been reduced by losses and strairfjlinfj. 

The Federal onset was well made, and a murderous fire of 
shell, canister, and musketry poured into Jackson's weak line. 
General J. R. Jones was disabled, and borne from the field, 
and the command of Jackson's division passed to the gallant 
General Starke. In the face of this fire, Jackson advanced his 
lines, driving the enemy back on their left and centre, assisted 
by three brigades on D. H. Hill's extreme left, while Hooker's 
right division was repulsed by the splendid fire of Stuart's horse 
artillery, posted between Jackson's left and the Potomac. Yet 
so well sustained was the enemy's attack, that at length Jack- 
son's lines began to waver, and his troops commenced to give 
ground. The corps had suffered horribly. Jackson's division 
had lost two commanders, (General Jones wounded, and Gen- 
eral Starke killed,) and General Lawton, commanding E well's 
division, had been borne from the field desperately wounded. 
*' Colonel Douglass, commanding Lawton's brigade had been 
killed, and the brigade had sustained a loss of three hundred 
and fifty-four killed and wounded, out of one thousand one 
hundred and fifty, losing five regimental commanders out of 
six. Hayes' brigade had sustained a loss of three hundred and 
twenty-three out of five hundred and fifty, including every reg- 
imental commander and all of his staff; and Colonel Walker 
and one of his staff had been disabled, and the brigade he was 
commanding had sustained a loss of two hundred and twenty- 
eight out of less than seven hundred present, including three 
out of four regimental commanders."* 

* General Jackson's Report. 



264 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Yet, in spite of these losses, the heroic men made one more 
desperate effort, and drove Hooker's command with such fury 
that it began to show signs of demoralization. Hood's two 
brio-ades had been advanced to the relief of Lawton and Trim- 
ble, and bore their part nobly in this charge. The Confeder- 
ates bought this success at a dear price, for they suffered se- 
verely in their advance. 

Yet so vigorous was their assault that Hooker's men com- 
menced to break to the rear. General Hooker himself was 
wounded and carried from the field, his absence contributing 
greatly to the disorder of his men. Mansfield's corps had 
come up about seven o'clock, and had shared the fate of Hook- 
er's corps in this advance, and General Mansfield had been 
mortally wounded. 

It was nine o'clock, and victory seemed about to declare in 
favor of the Confederates. Hooker's and Mansfield's corps had 
been driven back by Jackson's divisions and Hood's two brig- 
ades, — a force of not less than thirty thousand repulsed by less 
than six thousand, — and both of the Federal commanders had 
been carried from the field. The effort to turn Lee's left had 
signally failed, and the Federal right seemed on the point of 
becoming demoralized. At this moment General Sumner ar- 
rived with his corps, and restored order in the Federal lanks. 
He at once formed his line and renewed the effort to turn the 
Confederate left, extending his attack also, to the Southern 
centre under D. H. Hill. 

Jackson's command had been so greatly shattered by the 
hard fighting of the morning, that it was in no condition to 
oppose the advance of Sumner, and it was swept back with 
ease by the Federals. Its ammunition was exhausted, and it 
fell back rapidly, and in some disorder. Now it seemed that it 
was the Confederates who were about to be defeated, for should 
Sumner succeed in his attack, Lee's left flank would be turned, 



SHARPSBURG. 265 

and he would be cut off from the Potomac. The gallant stand 
made by Jackson's corps before it began to retreat allowed 
General Lee time for an important movement. 

Being apprised of General Jackson's critical condition, he 
detached Walker's two brigades from Longstreet's right, and 
sent them to Jackson. At the same time the division of Gen- 
eral McLaws, which was just coming upon the battle-field from 
Harper's Ferry, was directed to hasten to the left. These 
troops arrived just as Jackson's men had been driven beyond 
their original position, and when it seemed that Sumner was 
about to double up the Confederate left on its centre. 

Hastily reforming his line, and bringing his reeenforcements 
into action. General Jackson fell upon Sumner with fury, and 
penetrating an interval between his right and centre, broke his 
line and drove him through the woods, across the Hagerstown 
road, and back to a point half a mile from where the charge 
began, regaining possession of his original position. Jackson's 
corps had suffered too much, and his reenforcements were too 
limited to permit him to follow up his advantage by an effort to 
force Sumner back over the Antietam, and he contented him- 
self with holdlnsj the ground he had regained. 

It was now noon. The attempt to turn Lee's left had failed. 
Jackson with less than twelve thousand men (including his re- 
enforcements) had met and driven back the forty thousand 
splendid infantry of Hooker, Sumner and Mansfield. In the 
last attack General Sumner had been so severely punished that 
he made no further effort during the day to resume the offen- 
sive. 

As the fighting ceased on the Southern left, it was taken up 
in the centre against which the divisions of French and Rich- 
ardson had been ordered by General Sumner, who hoped thus 
to lighten the pressure with which Jackson was bearing down 
upon him. The first attack of these troops was made upon the 
S4 



266 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

brigades of Colquitt, Ripley and McRea, of D. H. Hill's divi- 
sion, which had been advanced to Jackson's assistance. The 
enemy at first vv^ere driven back, but as they brought up fresh 
troops and continued to pour a heavy fire into Hill's line, some 
one raised the cry " They are flanking us." This cry ran 
along the Confederate ranks w^ith lightning rapidity, the troops 
were panic stricken, and they fell back in disorder.* An effort 
was made to rally them at an old sunken road, running nearly 
at right angles to the Hagerstovvn turnpike, which had been 
their position previous to the advance. Hei'e a stand was 
made, and these brigades were united with the rest of Hill's 
division. The enemy attempted to dislodge them from this 
position also, but the Confederates met this assault with such a 
stubborn resistance that the Federals retired behind the crest of 
a hill from which they maintained an irregular fire.f 

General R. H. Anderson's division, between three and four 
thousand strong, now arrived and reported to General Hill. 
General Hill directed him to form in the rear of his line, but 
while this order was being executed an unexpected disaster befell 
this part of General Lee's army. An officer of General Rodes' 
brigade, during the temporary absence of General Rodes in 
another part of the field, mistook one of General Hill's orders 
as a command to fall back, and informed the commander of 
the 5th Alabama regiment that the order was intended for the 
whole brigade, and the other regimental commanders were 
immediately told this.J The brigade fell back, leaving a wide 
interval through which the enemy, who had been quick to per- 
ceive it, poured in heavy masses. G. B. Anderson's brigade, 
and then Wright's brigade, was broken, and driven back in 
disorder. General Anderson himself being wounded. Major- 
General R. H. Anderson and General Wright were also se- 
verely wounded. ^ 

♦ General D. H, Hill's Eeport. f General Lee's Report. 

X General D. H. Hill's Report. 



SHARPSBURG. 267 

The blow was so sudden and unexpected that It found Gen- 
eral Hill trying to assist one of his wounded aides to a place of 
safety, secure In the belief that his line was In no danger. 
Prompt to act, however, he brought up a battery of four guns, 
and rallying a few hundred infantry, led thera In person to the 
charge. This little force drove back the enemy and secured o 
position for the artillery, but the Federals still continued tc 
make determined efforts to pierce Lee's centre. For half an 
hour the fight raged with great violence. The fire of the artil- 
lery was admirable, and caused great suffering In the Federal 
ranks.* 

" Time and again," says a writer who was present, " did the 
Federals perseverlngly press close up to our ranks, so near 
indeed that their supporting batteries were obliged to cease 
firing lest they should kill their own men ; but just as often 
were they driven back by the combined elements of destruction 
which we brought to bear upon them. It was an hour when 
every man was wanted. The sharpshooters of the enemy 
were picking off our principal officers continually, and espec- 
ially those who made themselves conspicuous In the batteries. 
" In this manner the company of Captain Miller, of the 
Washington Artillery, was nearly disabled, only two out of 
his four guns being fully manned. As It occupied a position 
directly under the eye of General Longstreet, and he saw the 
valuable part it was performing in defending the centre, that 
officer dismounted himself from his horse, and assisted by his 
Adjutant-General Major Sorrel, Major Fairfax, and General 
Drayton, worked one of the guns until the crisis was passed. 
To see a general officer wielding the destinies of a great fight, 
with Its care and responsibilities upon his shoulders, perform- 
ing the duty of a common soldier, In the thickest of the con- 
flict, is a picture worthy of the pencil of an artist, "f 

* Reports of Generals Lee and D. H. Hill, 
t Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 335. 



268 LIFE OP GENERAL LEE. 

The enemy again moved forward. General Hill had been 
able to collect but a few hundred men belonging to his scat- 
tered brigades, and with these under his immediate command, 
— the 27th North Carolina holding its ground bravely without a 
single cartridge * — he repulsed the Federal attack, and, aided 
by the artillery I have referred to, checked the progress of the 
enemy, and assumed so bold a front that the Federals with- 
drew. Had they pressed on there can be little doubt that the 
centre of the Confederate line would have been carried. They 
ventured upon another attack a little later, farther to the right, 
but this was quickly repulsed by Miller's battery, supported by 
a part of R. H. Anderson's division. 

While the fight in the centre was going on, General Lee or- 
dered General Jackson to endeavor to turn the enemy's right, 
and force it back across the Antietam. General Jackson at 
once moved off, but upon approaching the position held by 
Sumner, found that his line extended almost to the Potomac, 
and was powerfully defended by artillery, leaving no room be- 
tween the river, which, in that direction makes a remarkable 
bend, and the left of the Federal line for a turning movement, 
so that any attack would of necessity have to be made in front. 
General Jackson, in consideration of this and of the weakness 
of his force, concluded to refrain from any hostile demonstra- 
tion. It was well that he did not attack, for Sumner had been 
reenforced by Franklin's corps. General Franklin was anxious 
to advance, but was kept inactive by General Sumner who did 
not desire to encounter Jackson again that day. 

The attack upon the centre ceased about two o'clock, and 
from this time there was a lull in the operations, broken only 
by " artillery duels" of the armies. 

General McClellan had massed a column of fifteen thousand 
men, under General Burnside, on his left, in front of the lower 

* General Lee's Report. 



SHARPSBURG. 269 

stone bridge, and opposite the position of General Longstreet. 
AVith this corps (the 9th) McClellan designed forcing the pas- 
sage of the Stone Bridge, and assaulting the Confederate right 
as soon as the attack on Lee's left should be successfully devel- 
oped. After carrying the bridge. General Burnside was to 
drive the Confederates from the heights in the vicinity of 
Sharpsburg, and take possession of the turnpike. This would 
cut Lee off from Shepherdstown, and would put him to great 
loss, if it did not ruin him. It was designed that General 
Burnside should make his attack early in the morning. When 
it was found that the Confederate resistance on his left was 
more stubborn than had been anticipated. General Burnside was 
ordered, by General McClellan, to attack and carry the bridge, 
and move upon Sharpsburg at once, as the surest means of as- 
sisting Hooker. During the day General Burnside made sev- 
eral attempts to pass the bridge, but was each time foiled by 
the Confederates. 

The necessities of the left wing had forced General Lee, early 
in the day, tp send to General Jackson the commands of Hood, 
Walker, and McLaws, leaving to General Longstreet the single 
division of General D. R. Jones. This command numbered 
barely twenty-five hundred men, and was the only force that 
could be spared to defend the right against the powerful corps 
of General Burnside. The force immediately in front of the 
bridge, and charged with its defence, was the brigade of Gen- 
eral Toombs, four hundred strong.* Yet this handful was suf- 
ficient to hold General Burnside in check during the greater 
portion of the day. 

About four o'clock, however, Burnside, who had been con- 
stantly receiving orders from McClellan to move forward, made 
a rush for the bridge and drove back Toombs' brigade, almost 
running over it. Pressing on, he reached the crest held by 

• Keport of General D. R. Jones. 



270 LIFE OF GENERAIi LEE. 

General Jones' main column. A brief but stubborn resistance 
was made by Jones' troops, but they were beaten back, and 
Burnside seemed about to seize the victory even at this late 
hour. 

Just at this time A. P. Hill arrived from Harper's Ferry 
with his division, having been on the march since half past 
seven in the morning. Reporting to General Lee in person, 
he was ordered to move to General Jones' assistance. His di- 
vision was only two thousand strong.* As he reached the 
right wing Jones was retiring, having been forced to leave a 
battery of four guns in the hands of the enemy. Hill promptly 
united the 'retreating division with his own, — in all less than 
five thousand men, — and then, hurling them with resistless 
energy upon the victorious enemy, drove Burnside's corps rap- 
idly before him, recapturing the battery and the ground that 
had been lost, and forcing the enemy to take refuge under the 
ridge bordering the Antietam, where they were protected by 
their batteries on the other side of the creek. 

Thus ended this great battle, and at sunset the Confederates 
remained upon the ground they had occupied in the morning, 
having repulsed every effort made to dislodge them. They suf- 
fered a loss in killed and wounded of about eight thousand 
seven hundred and ninety men, including Generals Starke and 
Branch killed, General G. B. Anderson, mortally wounded, 
and Generals R. H. Anderson, Ripley, Lawton, Wright, and 
Armistead wounded. The Federal loss was twelve thousand 
four hundred and sixty-nine, including General Mansfield mor- 
tally wounded, and Generals Hooker, Hartsuff, Duryee, Rich- 
ardson, Sedgewick, French, Sumner, Dana, Meagher, Rick- 
etts, Weber, and Rodman wounded. 

It was almost dark when Burnside was repulsed. The ene- 
my expecting that Lee would try to follow up his success by , 

♦ General A. P. Hill's Report. 



THE RETREAT ACROSS THE POTOIIAC. 271 

crossing the creek, massed their artillery on the heights com- 
manding the bridges. General Lee had no intention of push- 
ing on so far. He had foiled them in all their efforts, and this 
was a great triumph with so small an army as he had. 

Durino; the night, some slight reenforcements were received 
by the Confederate army, consisting chiefly of soldiers, who had 
been sick or wounded earlier in the year, and were now rejoin- 
ing their regiments, and of stragglers who were constantly com- 
ing in, but these fell far short of making up the losses in 
battle. 

On the morning of the 18th, General McClellan had before 
him the alternatives of renewing the attack at once or deferring 
it until the next day, when he expected reenforcements, then on 
their way from Washington. He decided to adopt the latter, 
although there was considerable probability that General Lee 
would retire into Virginia before the morning of the 19th. 

During the 18th the Confederate army occupied the position 
held on the previous day, except in the centre, where the line 
was drawn in about two hundred yards. Although not strong 
enough to assume the offensive. General Lee regarded his abil- 
ity to repel another attack as certain, and held his lines during 
the day without apprehension.* 



V. 

THE RETREAT ACROSS THE POTOMAC. 

The battle of Sharpsburg was not a victory for General Mc- 
Clellan. He had attacked an army scarcely more than one- 
third as strong as his own, and had been repulsed with a loss 
')ne-third greater than that experienced by his antagonist. So 

• General Lee's Report. 



272 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

severely had his army suffered from the handling it had received, 
that it is certain it would have been driven back east of 
the mountains had the thirty thousand stragglers of Lee's army 
been present on the 17th of September. It is true that the 
invasion of Maryland came to a close with this engagement, 
but not, as has been asserted, in consequence of it. The delay 
caused by the retention of Harper's Ferry by the enemy, and 
above all the terrible losses sustained by the Southern army 
through the straggling of the men, had so completely disar- 
ranged General Lee's programme as to make a successful cam- 
paign in Maryland no longer possible. The campaign was in 
reality decided before the battle was fought, and the action was 
awaited by General Lee simply to put an end to McClellan's 
pursuit and secure the reunion of the army. 

On the night of the 18th it was decided by General Lee to 
retire into Virginia at once. He had nothing to gain by wait- 
ing in his present position, and he was only increasing his dan- 
ger by continuing in Maryland. It was known to him that 
General McClellan was receiving reeenforcements. He could 
not hope for any addition to his army, and his communications 
with the south bank of the Potomac were maintained by a sin- 
gle road, which was in such a condition that it was almost im- 
possible to supply the troops with food and ammunition. By 
retiring into Virginia he could recruit his forces by collecting 
the stragglers from his army. The sick and wounded of the 
Peninsular campaign were now beginning to return to their reg- 
iments fresh and ready for active service, and the Government 
was collecting reenforcements for the army, all of whom could 
join it more readily in Virginia than in Maryland. The wants 
of the men in clothing, shoes and provisions could be better 
supplied south of the Potomac than north of it. 

On the night of the 18th, General Longstreet, whose posi- 
tion was only a few miles north of the Potomac, withdrew qui- 



THE RETREAT ACROSS THE POTOMAC. 273 

etly, and recrossed the river near Shepherdstown. He was fol- 
lowed by the rest of the army, the cavalry bringing up the rear, 
and by eleven o'clock on the morning of the 19lh the array was 
in position on the Virginia shore, ready to receive the enemy 
should they attempt to pursue. Everything of value was 
brought off. The New York Tribune well expressed the feel- 
ing of disappointment which pervaded the North when the mas- 
terly withdrawal of the Southern commander became known. 
" He leaves us," it said, " the debris of his late camps, two 
disabled pieces of artillery, a few huudred of his stragglers, 
perhaps two thousand of his wounded, and as many more of his 
unburied dead. Not a sound field-piece, caisson, ambulance, 
or wagon : not a tent, box of stores, or a pound of ammuni- 
tion. He takes with him the supplies gathered in Maryland, 
and the rich spoils of Harper's Ferry." 

When he discovered the withdrawal of General Lee, on the 
morning of the 19th, General McClellan pushed forward Por- 
ter's corps, which had been held in reserve during the battle of 
the 17th, and moved towards the Potomac in pursuit of General 
Lee. Porter reached the north bank just after the Confed- 
erates had crossed the river. 

General Pendleton was left to guard the ford with the reserve 
artillery and about six hundred infantry. During the night 
Porter crossed a strong column, and, driving off the infantry, 
captured four of Pendleton's guns. General Porter then estab- 
lished a considerable force on the south bank, under the fire of 
his artillery on the Maryland shore. 

The army had vdthdrawn from the river before this occurred, 
but as soon as he was informed of Pendleton's misfortune. Gen- 
eral Lee ordered General A. P. Hill to return with his division, 
and drive Porter over the river. On the morning of the 20th 
Hill moved back, and approaching the enemy's position, under 
a heavy fire from their batteries in Maryland, drove them into 
85 



274 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

the Potomac,* where an appalling scene of destruction of 
human life followed. Two hundred prisoners were taken. 
" The broad surface of the Potomac was blue with the floating 
bodies of the Federals. But few escaped to tell the tale. By 
their own account, they lost three thousand men, killed and 
drowned, from one brigade alone." f Hill's loss was two hun- 
dred and sixty-one. 

General McClellan attempted no further pursuit. He was as 
much in need of rest for his army as was Lee, and he was glad 
to remain north of the Potomac, while the Confederate army 
withdrew to the vicinity of Winchester. 

The army greatly needed rest. Since the 25th of June it 
had marched over three hundred miles on half rations, in rags 
and barefooted. It had met and defeated three powerful 
armies in twelve battles and numerous skirmishes, inflicting upon 
the enemy a loss of nearly seventy-six thousand men, of which 
number nearly thirty thousand were prisoners, capturing one 
hundred and fifty-five pieces of artillery, nearly seventy thou- 
sand stand of small arms, and capturing and destroying stores 
of various kinds to the amount of millions of dollars. 

While the troops were lying around Winchester, General 
Lee issued the following order, reviewing the events of the 
campaign : — 

" Headquarters Armt Northern Virgikia, 
October 2, 1862. 
"GENERAL ORDER, 
No. 116. 

"In reviewing the achievements of the army during the 

present campaign, the Commanding General cannot withhold 

the expression of his admiration of the indomitable courage it 

has displayed in battle, and its cheerful endurance of privation 

and hardship on the march. 

♦ General Jackson's Report. f General A. P. Hill's Report. 



THE RETREAT ACROSS THE POTOMAC. 275 

'* Sin 36 your great victories around Richmond, you have 
defeated the enemy at Cedar Mountain, expelled him from the 
Rappahannock, and, after a conflict of three days, utterly 
repulsed him on the Plains of Manassas, and forced him to take 
shelter within the fortifications around his Capital. 

"Without halting for repose, you crossed the Potomac, 
stormed the heights of Harper's Ferry, made prisoners of more 
than eleven thousand men, and captured upwards of seventy 
pieces of artillery, all their small arms, and other munitions of 
war. 

" While one corps of the army was thus engaged, the other 
insured its success by arresting, at Boonsboro, the combined 
armies of the enemy, advancing under their favorite General 
to the relief of their beleaguered comrades. 

"On the field of Sharpsburg, with less than one third his 
numbers, you resisted, from daylight until dark, the whole 
army of the enemy, and repulsed every attack along his entire 
front, of more than four miles in extent. 

" The whole of the following day you stood prepared to 
resume the conflict on the same ground, and retired next morn- 
ing, without molestation, across the Potomac. 

" Two attempts, subsequently made by the enemy, to follow 
you across the river, have resulted in his complete discomfiture, 
each being driven back with loss. 

' ' Achievements such as these demanded much valor and 
patriotism. History records few examples of greater fortitude 
and endurance than this army has exhibited ; and I am com- 
missioned by the President to thank you in the name of the 
Confederate States for the undying fame you have won for their 
arms. 

" Much as you have done, much more remains to be accom- 
plished. The enemy again threatens us with invasion, and to 
your tried valor and patriotism the country looks with confi- 



276 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

dence for deliverance and safety. Your past exploits give 
assurance that this confidence is not misplaced. 

R. E. Lee, General Commanding.''* 



VI. 

A SEASON OF EEST. 

After reaching the vicinity of Winchester, General Lee's first 
care was to urge upon the Government the necessity of supply- 
ing his troops with shoes and clothing. These wants were sup- 
plied only in part. The Quartermaster-General's Department 
seemed to be very indignant that the troops should want either 
shoes or clothing. It could not bring itself to act with the 
energy the case demanded, and the citizens of Richmond and 
Petersburg, indignant at the delay of the Government, sent a 
large quantity of shoes to the army, while the Quartermaster- 
General was considering whether the army regulations allowed 
a soldier to wear new shoes. 

The stragglers were collected and brought back to the army. 
They were scattered all through the country between Shepherds- 
town and Manassas, and having had the advantage of a long 
rest, were in good condition when they reached Winchester. 
The work of preparing the command for a new campaign went 
on rapidly, and in the course of a fortnight the army was in- 
creased by the arrival of about thirty thousand fresh troops. 
The country was admirably adapted for restoring the worn-out 
men to vigor and health again. "The bracing mountain 
breeze, the beautiful skies, the liberty to engage in every 
species of fun and frolic, within the limits of military discipline, 
seemed to pour new life-blood into the frames of the men, ex- 
hausted and worn down by the immense marches they had 



A SEASON OF REST. 277 

made, and the toils, privations, hardships, and excitements 
which they had undergone." 

The holiday life, as it were, of the men is well described in 
the following letter written by one of Jackson's corps at the 
time : 

*' The campaign having apparently ended, there are no 
' moving accidents by flood or field ' of interest, and therefore 
nothing left to record but the daily routine of camp life ; this 
shall be true to history, however, to let the old folks at home 
know how we live ' sure enough ' while here. * * * Qm- 
camps not being regulated by military rule, for want of material 
in tents, etc., are left to illustrate the variegated, architectural, 
and domestic tastes of the thousand different individuals con- 
cerned. Hence, although a wall tent or Sibley, graces an 
occasional locality, the most of the men ensconce themselves in 
bush-built shelters of various shapes, in fence corners, under 
gum blankets, eked out by cedar boughs, or burrow semi- 
subterraneously like Esquimaux. If, as is said, the several 
styles of architecture took their origin from natural circum- 
stances, and climate, etc., as the curving Oriental roofs from 
the long reeds originally in use — the slanting Egyptians from 
the necessity of baking their unburnt bricks in the hot sun — 
the Corinthian from its own flowery clime, etc., etc., — an 
architectural genius might find enough original designs in this 
camp to supply a century to come. 

" The only ' useful occupation' of this brigade for some time 
past has been to destroy all the railroads in reach ; apparently, 
too, for no better reason than the fellow had for killinsr the 
splendid anaconda in the Museum, because it was his ' rule to 
kill snakes wherever found.' * * * 

" It is when idle in camp that the soldier is a great institu- 
tion, yet one that must be seen to be appreciated. Pen cannot 
fully paint the air of cheerful content, care-hilarity, irrespon- 



278 LIFE OP GENERAL LEE. 

sible lounglngs, and practical spirit of jesting that 'obtains/ 
ready to seize on any odd circumstance in its licensed levity. 
A ' cavalryman ' comes rejoicing in immense top boots, for 
which in fond pride he has invested full forty dollars of pay ; 
at once the cry from a hundred voices follows him along the 
line : ' Come up out o' them boots ! Come out ! Too soon to 
go into winter quarters ! I know you're in thar ! — see your 
arms stickin' out ! ' A bumpkin rides by in an uncommonly 
big hat, and is frightened by the shout : ' Come down out o' 
that hat ! Come down ! 'Taint no use to say you aint up 
there ; I see your legs hanging out ! ' A fancy staff officer was 
horrified at the irreverent reception of his nicely twisted mous- 
tache, as he heard from behind innumerable trees : ' Take them 
mice out o' your mouth ! Take 'em out ! No use to say they 
aint thar ! — see their tails hanging out ! ' Another, sporting 
immense whiskers, was urged to ' come out of that bunch of 
har ! I know you're in thar ! I see your ears a working ! ' 
Sometimes a rousing cheer is heard in the distance — it is ex- 
plained : ' Boys, look out ! Here comes " Old Stonewall, " or 
an old hare, one or t'other,' — they being about the only indi- 
viduals who invariably bring down the house. 

" But the whole day of camp life is not yet described ; the 
night remains, and latterly it is no unusual scene, as the gloam- 
ing gathers, to see a group quietly collect beneath the dusky 
shadows of the forest trees, — ' God's first temples, ' — whence 
soon arise the notes of some familiar hymn, awaking memories 
of childhood and of home. The youthful chaplain in earnest 
tones tells his holy mission ; another hymn is heard, and by 
the waning light of the pine torches the weird-like figures of 
the grouped soldiers are seen reverently moving to the night's 
repose. The deep bass drum beats taps — the sounds die out 
in all the camps, save at times the sweet strains from the band 
of the 5th Stonewall regiment in a neighboring grove, till they 
too fade away into the stilly night, and soon — 



A SEASON OF REST. 273 

'The soldiers lie peacefully dreaming, 

Their tents in the rays of the clear Autumn moon, 

Or the light of the watch-fires are gleaming ; 
A tremulous sigh as the gentle night wind 

Through the forest leaves slowly is creeping, 
While the stars up above with their glittering eyes 

Keep guard, for the army is sleeping. ' " 

The experience of the past campaigns had by this time sug- 
gested to the Confederate authorities the propriety of organizing 
Corps d'Annee for their principal armies. 

On the 6th of October the President approved an act of 
Congress authorizing him to organize "the divisions of the 
provisional army of the Confederate States into army corps, 
and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, ap- 
point officers to the command thereof." The act was put into 
operation immediately throughout the South. The Army of 
Northern Virginia was divided into two corps, and the com- 
mand of the first assigned to Major-General Longstreet and 
that of the second to Major-General Jackson. Longstreet'a 
corps consisted of the divisions of McLaws, Hood, Pickett, and 
Walker ; Jackson's of the divisions of A. P. Hill, Ewell, and 
Jackson's old division, under General Taliaferro. The com- 
mand of the reserve was assigned to General D. H. Hill, the 
cavalry continued under General Stuart, and the artillery under 
General Pendleton. This army numbered about fifty-five or 
sixty thousand men towards the last of October. 

The armies of the South now began to suffer from one of the 
consequences of their lack of discipline. Desertions became 
frightfully common. The losses of the Army of Northern Vir- 
ginia necessarily occasioned the absence of many sick and 
wounded. The majority of these were sent to Richmond, 
Petersburg and Lynchburg, and the hospital facilities of the 
South were so limited that it became necessary to allow many 
of the patients to go to their homes during their convalescence, 



LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

and the most of those who remained in the hospitals until well 
enough to move about were allowed brief furloughs at the end 
of that time, in order that they might recuperate more 
speedily than was possible in the hospitals. Many, alas, too 
jnany, of these men failed to return to the service at the expi- 
ration of their leaves of absence, and others, with a strange 
idea that they were serving the country, refused to return to 
their proper commands, but enlisted in other regiments. Meas- 
ures were set on foot to check the evil, but, through the weak- 
ness of the Government, failed to accomplish anything. 

Congress also passed a law for the removal of incompetent 
officers from the army, which was approved by the President 
October 13, 1862. Had this measure been faithfully executed, 
it would have resulted in the greatest benefit to the Confed- 
eracy, but Mr. Davis, from the first, in effect, set himself 
against it. No officer, however incompetent, who chanced to 
be a friend of the President, was in any danger of suffering by 
this law, for Mr. Davis, throughout the whole struggle, con- 
stituted himself the especial protector of incompetent and 
unpopular officers and commanders.* 

The army was not only called upon to bear privations and 
hardships, but it was for months together kept from receiving 
the miserable pittance of Confederate money allowed it. The 
law of Congress required that the troops should be paid in such 
a manner that the arrears should at no time exceed two months. 
The organization of the Confederate army gave a paymaster to 
each regiment by requiring the duties of that position to be dis- 
charged by the regimental quartermasters. These officers con- 
fined their depredations and speculations to the stores and 
property belonging to their department, and satisfied their con- 
sciences by a rigid discharge of their duties as paymasters, so 

* Witness his course with reference to Pemberton, Northrop,Hindman, Sed- 
don, and others. 



./A SEASON OF REST. 281 

that they were not responsible for the failure of the troops to 
receive the money due them. The fault was with the Treasury 
Department, which, to the great injury of the South, was in 
charge of Secretary Memminger. He failed to provide the 
funds, although he knew the army was suffering for them. He 
had been assigned a task far beyond his capacity, and the army 
and people had to pay the penalty of his blunders. Even when 
the payments were made, the money was so worthless that a 
month's pay would not buy a pair of shoes. The Government 
was frequently urged to make the treasury notes a legal tender, 
and among those who advocated the measure was General Lee, 
who, in a letter written about the 20th of October, 1862, 
called the attention of the President to its propriety and neces- 
sity, and quoted the example of Washington during the Revo- 
lution in support of his views.* 

The facilities for caring for the sick and wounded of the 
army were very limited, but the incompetency of many mem- 
bers of the medical department, and the inexcusable careless- 
ness of too many of the persons connected with it, occasioned 
great suffering to the patients. This was especially the case 
while the army was at "Winchester. The injured men had to be 
conveyed from that place to Staunton, a distance of ninety 
miles, in ambulances, — always a painful way of travelling, — 
and along the whole route no accommodations were made for 
their comfort, though it was a two days' journey for them. 
Upon reaching Staunton they were crowded into box cars, for 
fear they would injure the passenger coaches, and, as a general 
rule, with nothing to support them against the jolting and 
shaking of the cars but the hard, plank floor. The surgeons and 
attendants were generally assigned a separate car, — a comfort- 
able coach with softly-cushioned seats, — and they rarely saw 

♦ Diary of a Rebel "War Clerk. Vol. I. See entry under the date of Oc- 

tol>3r 22, 1862. 

36 



282 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

their patients during the journey. The writer of these pages 
witnessed much of this during the war, and knew of many well- 
authenticated instances of terrible suffering endured by the 
wounded during their journeys in the box-cars. Sometimes 
these journeys would occupy ten or twelve hours, during which 
time the men were not given any food, or one drop of water to 
quench their burning thirst. Their sufferings were intense, and 
commonly aggravated by the heat of the close cars. Still the 
Medical Department of the Government could not find the 
means to remedy this evil, and the Government itself could not, 
amidst all its violations of the Constitution and the rights of 
the people, find it in its heart to require the railroad companies 
to allow the wounded to use the passenger coaches, which would 
have spared the poor fellows many hours of untold agony.* 

The Confederate Government, alarmed by the movements 
of the Federals, and the energetic preparations being made by 
them for the fall campaign, urged General Lee to fall back from 
the Valley. This, however, was not in accordance with the 
views of the Confederate commander. In a letter to the Gov- 
ernment, he stated that he was strong enough to resist McClel- 
lan's advance, should he move down the Valley, and that in his 
present position he was subsisting his army on what would 
supply the enemy should he retreat, as his own means of trans- 
portation were too limited to permit him to carry away much 
of it, and instead of thinking of retreating, he urged that the 
Confederate cavalry in the neighborhood of Manassas and 
Culpepper should be more active and daring. 

As a means of increasing his own army, and working upon 
the fears of the Federal Government, so as to induce them to 
draw off troops from McClellan's army, or delay his advance 

* The reader will find statements of these abuses in the Richmond Exam- 
iner iov October 18, 1862, and the Richmond Dispatch for October 17 and 20, 
1862. 



A SEASON OP REST. 283 

into Virginia, General Lee ordered General Loring, who was 
operating in Western Virginia, with about eight thousand men, 
to march towards the Ohio, menace Wheeling, and then join 
the Army of Northern Virginia on the Upper Potomac by way 
of the Monongehela. General Loring, who, throughout the 
war seemed to have a supreme disregard for the orders of his 
superiors, refused to obey General Lee's instructions, and the 
plan fell to the ground. General Loring was removed from 
his command, but the Government declined to allow General 
Lee to reenforce his army with the troops from Western Vir- 
ginia. 

So deeply wedded to its policy of dispersion was the Southern 
Administration, that, when, towards the last of October, the en- 
emy made their appearance on the south side of the James, the 
Government, instead of withdrawing troops from unimportant 
points to meet this demonstration, absolutely requested General 
Lee to detach a part of his army for service south of the James. 
This, too, when McClellan was threatening an immediate ad- 
vance into Virginia. General Lee very properly declined to 
comply with the request, stating that if any of his troops were 
taken from him he would not have enough left to meet Mc- 
Clellan. 

The period of rest was rapidly drawing fcj a close, and the 
army was again about to be called upon to meet its old an- 
tasrouist. 



284 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 



YI. 

TEE FREDERICKSBURG CAMPAIGN. 

October — December, 1862. 



I. 

McCLELLAN ADVANCES. 

When the Army of Northern Virginia retired to the vicinity 
of Winchester, General Jackson's corps was assigned the task 
of destroying the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. This impor- 
tant road was the principal line of communication between the 
east and west, and had been used to great advantage by the 
enemy. General Lee now determined to damage it to such an 
extent that it would require a long time for the Federals to re- 
pair it. During the month of October that portion of the rail- 
road extending from Sir John's Run to within a few miles of 
Harper's Ferry, a distance of forty miles, was completely de- 
stroyed, — the rails and sleepers removed, twisted, and burned, 
and the bridges and culverts blown np. 

After the withdrawal of Lee's army. General McClellan oc- 
cupied the north bank of the Potomac, from a point opposite 
Shepherdstown to Harper's Ferry. Two corps, under General 
Sumner, occupied Harper's Ferry and the surrounding heights, 
and ponton-bridges were thrown across the Potomac and Shen- 
andoah at their confluence. General McClellan passed the 



MCCLELLAN ADVANCES. 28o 

time occupied by Lee in reorganizing and refitting his army, in 
a similar manner, and with ten times more advantages in the 
way of supplies of all kinds. He applied all his energies to the 
task of preparing his command for another grand campaign 
against the Southern Capital. 

During this time very little of importance occurred. On the 
1st of October a strong column of cavalry, under General 
Pleasanton, crossed the Potomac at Shepherdaiown, for the 
purpose of reconnoitering General Lee's position. The small 
Confederate force at Martinsburg was driven off, and the 
enemy pressed on through the town, when their advance was 
checked by General Stuart, who arrived on the ground and 
took command in person. Though the horses were nearly ex- 
hausted, Stuart made a gallant attack, and at nightfall forced 
General Pleasanton to recross the Potomac* 

♦The Federals reported this aflfair as a victory. General Lee's dispatch 
shows the true state of the case. It is as follows : — 

" Headqcahtees Armt of Northern Virginia, 
Camp on Washinoion'3 Sun, Oct. 2, 1862. 

*' Geserai. S. Cooper, Adjutant and Inspector- Oeneral, C. S. A., Richmond, Va. 

"General: — The enemy's cavalry, under General Pleasanton, with six 
pieces of artillery, drove back our pickets yesterday, in front of Sliepherds- 
town. The 9th Virginia cavalry, which was on picket, repulsed the enemy 
several times, by vigorous charges, disputing the ground step by step, back 
to the main body. By the time his artillery reached him. Colonel W. H. F. 
Lee, who was in command of the brigade, was obliged to place it on the west 
bank of the Opequon, on the flank of the enemy as he approached Martins- 
burg. 

" General Hampton's brigade retired through Martinsburg, on the Tusca- 
rora road, when General Stuart arrived and made dispositions to attack. 
Lee's brigade was advanced immediately, and Hampton's ordered forward. 
The enemy retired at the approach of Lee along the Shepherdstown road, and 
was driven across the Potomac by the cavalry, with a severe loss, and dark- 
ness alone prevented it from being a signal victory. His rear was overtaken 
and put to flight, our cavalry charging in gallant style under a severe fire of 
Mtillery, routing squadron after squadron, killing a number, wounding more, 



286 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

In order to learn something of the movements, position, and 
strength of the Federal army, General Lee decided to send 
General Stuart on an expedition to Pennsylvania, and on the 
8th of October ordered him to set out at once.* 

and capturing several. He was driven through Shepherdstown, and crossed 
the river after dark, in no case standing a hand-to-hand conflict, but relying 
upon his artillery and carbines at long range for protection. 

*• I regret to add that we lost one lieutenant and several privates. 

" I am, most respectfully your obedient servant, 

K. E. Lee, Ge^ieral Commanding" 

* The purpose of this expedition is stated fully in the following letter of in- 

Etructions : 

Headquarters Armt Northern VmoiinA, 
Camp hear Winchestek, Va., Oct. 8, 1862. 

" Major-Geneeal J. E. B. Stuart, Commanding Cavalry, Ac. 

" General : An expedition into Maryland with a detachment of cavalry, 
if it can be successfully executed, is at this time desirable. You will, there- 
fore, form a detachment of from twelve to fifteen hundred well mounted men, 
suitable for such an expedition, and should the information from your scouts 
lead you to suppose that your movement can be concealed from the bodies of 
the enemy that would be able to resist it, you are desired to cross the Potomac 
above Williamsport, leave Hagerstown and Greencastle on your right, and 
proceed to the rear of Chambersburg, and endeavor to destroy the railroad 
bridge over the branch of the Conocheague. 

" Any other damage you can inflict upon the enemy or his means of trans- 
portation you will also execute. You are desired to gain all information of 
the position, force, and probable intention of the enemy which you can ; and 
in your progress into Pennsylvania, you will take measures to inform your- 
self of the various routes that you may take on your return to Virginia. 

"To keep your movement secret, it will be necessary for you to arrest all 
citizens that may give information to the enemy and should you meet with cit- 
izens of Pennsylvania holding State or Government offices, it will be desir- 
able, if convenient, to bring them with you that they may be used as hostages, 
or the means of exchanges for our own citizens that have been carried off by 
the enemy. Such persons will, of course, be treated with all the respect and 
consideration that circumstances will admit. 

" Should it be in your power to supply yourself with horses, or other nec- 
essary articles on the list of legal captures, you are authorized to do so. 

" Having accomplished your errand, you will rejoin this army as soon as 



MCCLELLAN ADVANCES. 287 

On the 9 th of October General Stuart organized a force of 
eighteen hundred men and four pieces of artillery, under the 
command of General Hampton, and Colonels W. H. F. Lee 
and Jones. His men were ordered to conduct themselves with 
great prudence and propriety during the march, and to confine 
themselves strictly to the objects of the expedition.* At noon 

practicable. Reliance is placed upon your skill and judgment in the success- 
ful execution of this plan, and it is not intended or desired that you should 
jeopardize the safety of your command, or go farther than your good judg- 
ment and prudence may dictate. 

" Colonel Imboden has been desired to attract the attention of the enemy 
towards Cumberland ; so that the river between that point and where you may 
re-cross, may be less guarded. You will, of course, keep out your scouts to 
give you information, and take every other precaution to secure the success 
and safety of the expedition. 

" Sliould you be led so far east, as to make it better, in your opinion, to 
continue around to the Potomac, you will have to cross the river in the vicin- 
ity of Leesburg. 

" I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, 

(Signed,) R. E. I5eb, General. 

Official : 

R. H. Chilton, A. A. General." 

* The following is General Stuart's order. 

" Heidqcabters Catalrt Division, 
October 9, 1862. 
" GENERAL ORDER, 
No. 13. 

" During the expedition into the enemy's country, in which this command 
is about to engage, brigade commanders will make arrangements for seizing 
horses, the property of citizens of the United States, and all other property 
subject to legal capture, provided that in no case will any species of property 
be t.iken except by authority given in person or in writing of the commander 
of brigade, regiment, or captain of a company in the absence of his superior 
officers. In all cases, a simple receipt will be given to the effect that the arti- 
cle is seized for the use of the Confederate States, giving place, date and 
name of owners, in order to enable the individual to have recourse upon his 
Government for damage. 

*' Individual plunder for private use is positively forbidden, and every in- 
stance must be punished in the severest manner, for an army of plunderers 



288 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

on the 9th, the command rendezvoused at Darkesville, and 
marched thence to Hedgesville, where it bivouacked for the 
njo-ht. At daylight on the 10th the march was resumed, and 
*h'^ Potomac was crossed at McCoy's, between Hancock and 
Willicamsport. The enemy had a picket at this point which 
was driven off with the loss of several horses. 

Upon gaining the iNational road, the cavalry surprised and 
captured a party of eight or ten men in charge of a signal sta- 
tion, together with their flags and apparatus. From these 
Stuart learned that a large force of the enemy had passed by 
but an hour before, towards Cumberland. 

consummates its own destruction. The capture of anything will not give the 
captor any individual claim, and all horses and equipments will be kept to be 
apportioned, upon the return of the expedition, through the entire division. 
Brigade commanders will arrange to have one-third of their respective com- 
mands engaged in leading horses, provided enough can be procured, each man 
linking so as to lead three horses, the led horses being habitually in the centre 
of the brigade, and the remaining two-thirds, will keep, at all times, prepared 
for action. 

" The attack, when made, must be vigorous and overwhelming, giving the 
enemy no time to reconnoitre or consider anything, except his best means of 
flight. All persons found in transit must be detained, subject to the orders 
of Division Provost Marshal, to prevent information reaching the enemy. As 
a measure of justice to our many good citizens, who, without crime, have 
been taken from their homes and kept by the enemy in prison, all public 
functionaries, such as magistrates, postmasters, sheriffs, &c., will be seized as 
prisoners. They will be kindly treated, and kept as hostages for our own. No 
straggling from the route of march or bivouac for the purpose of obtaining 
provisions, &c., will be permitted in any case, the commissaries and quarter- 
masters being required to obtain and furnish all such supplies in bulk as may 
be necessary. 

" So much of this order as authorizes seizures of persons and property, 
will not take effect until the command crosses the Pennsylvania line. 

" Tlie utmost activity is enjoined upon the detachments procuring horses, 
gnd unceasing vigilance upon the entire command. 

" Major J.' P. W. Hairston is hereby appointed Division Proyost Marshal. 
By command of Major-General J. E. B. STUART. 

R. Channing Price, 1st Lieut, and A. D. 0." 



MCCLELLAX ADVANCES. 289 

General Stuart was exceedingly anxious to capture Hagers- 
town, where the Federals had collected a large quantity of val- 
uable stores, but he was satisfied, from information which 
reached him, that the enemy had become aware of his presence 
in their lines, so that, by striking at Hagerstown, he might 
ruin his expedition. Time was now all important, and the 
column was pushed forward as rapidly as possible. 

At dark the cavalry arrived at Chambersburg, having met 
with no resistance along their route. It was not known to 
General Stuart what force the enemy had in the place, but he 
did not think it prudent to defer its capture until daylight. At 
the same time he was unwilling to dash into a town full of 
women, and children, without giving them a chance to secure 
tlieir safety. Accordingly, he dispatched a summons to the 
authorities of Chambersburg, demanding the surrender of the 
town, and informing them that if any resistance was offered, 
" the place would be shelled in three minutes." The officer 
who bore the summons could not find any officials, either civic 
or military, but delivered the message to several prominent cit- 
izens of the place. 

Hampton's command was in the advance, and this at once 
moved into the town and occupied it. The authorities had all 
fled, and "no one could be found willing to acknowledge that 
he held office in the place."* The inhabitants were assured 
that if they remained at their homes in peace they would be 
protected. This pledge was scrupulously observed. A Colonel 
McClure, in his account of Stuart's occupation of the town, 
where the Colonel himself resided, thus describes the conduct 
of the Confederates : 

' ' A subordinate officer had begged of me a little bread for 
himself and a few more, and he was supplied in the kitchen. 
He was followed by others in turn, until nearly a hundred had 

* General Stuart's Report. 
37 



290 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

been supplied with something to eat or drink. All, however, 
politely asked permission to enter the house. When told I was 
a decided Republican they thanked me for being candid. * * * 
" In a little while one entered the yard, and, after a profound 
bow, asked for a few coals to light a fire. * * * * I pointed 
them to the pump, and again received a profusion of thanks. 
Communication having been opened between us, squads fol- 
lowed each other closely for water, but each called and asked 
permission before getting it, and promptly left the yard. I was 
somewhat surprised at this uniform courtesy. About one 
o'clock half a dozen officers came to the door and asked to have 
some coffee made for them, offering to pay liberally for it in 
Confederate scrip. After concluding a treaty with them on 
behalf of the colored servants, coffee was promised them, and 
they then asked for a little bread with it. They were wet and 
shivering, and seeing a bright, open wood fire in the library, 
they asked permission to enter and warm themselves until their 
coffee should be ready, assuring me that, under no circum- 
stances, should anything in the house be disturbed by their 
men."* 

* This contrasts glaringly with the conduct of the Federals during their 
occupation of Williamstown, North Carolina. 

" On entering Williamstown," says an eye-witness, "the Yankees respected 
not a single house, it mattered not whether the owner was in or absent. 
Doors were broken open and houses entered by the soldiers, who took every- 
thing they saw, and what they were unable to carry away they broke and 
destroyed. Furniture of every description was committed to the flames, and 
the citizens who dared to remonstrate with them were threatened, cursed, and 
buffeted about. * * * * "phe enemy stopped for the night at Mr. "Ward's 
mill. Mr. Ward was completely stripped of everything, they not even leav- 
ing him enough for breakfast. While on a sick bed, his wife was, in his 
presence, searclied and robbed of five hundred dollars. The Yankees went 
about fifteen miles above Hamilton, when, for some cause, they suddenly 
turned and marched back, taking, with some slight deviation in quest of 
plunder, the same route they had come. The town of Hamilton was set on 
fire and as many as fift€en houses laid in ashes. During the time the Yac- 



MCCLELLAN ADVANCES. 291 

About two hundred and seventy-five sick soldiers were cap- 
tured in a hospital in the place. They were paroled, and al- 
lowed to remain undisturbed. The next morning, the 11th, 
a large quantity of muskets, pistols, sabres, and ammunition, 
(about five thousand stand of arms in all) was destroyed, the 
railroad and telegraph wires were cut, and the railroad depot, 
machine shops, and several trains of loaded cars were burnt. 

The enemy had now learned of Stuart's movements, and the 
news was telegraphed throughout the North, producing no 
little excitement and mortification there. General McClellan 
determined that the bold troopers should not escape him this 
time, as they had done on the Chickahominy, and at once dis- 
posed his troops to prevent them from recrossing the Potomac. 
General Pleasanton, with his cavalry, was ordered to proceed 
in pursuit of Stuart. He was directed to march with the ut- 
most rapidity, and "not to spare his men or horses "in the 
attempt to capture or destroy the Confederate horsemen. 

keee encamped at Williamstown, everything which they left unharmed when 
last there, was demolished. Every house in town was occupied and defaced. 
Several fine residences, among which was .Judge Briggs', were actually used 
as horse stables. Iron safes were broken open, and in the presence of their 
owners rifled of their contents. Several citizens were seized and robbed of 
the money on their persons. ***** Qn Sunday morning Williams- 
town was fired and no effort made to arrest the flames until several houses 
were burnt. No attempt was made by the Yankee officers, from General 
Foster down, to prevent the destruction of property. On the contrary, they 
connived at it, and some of the privates did not hesitate to c-y I'lat they were 
instructed to do as they had done. Two ladies at W::!i^.". t-wn went to Gen- 
eral Foster to beseech protection from his soldiers, and were rudely and 
arrogantly ordered from his presence. * * * * Families who fled in 
dismay at the approach of the invader, returned and found, as well as the few 
who remained at home, clothes, beds, bedding, spoons, and books, abstracted, 
costly furniture, crockery, doors, harness and vehicles demolished, locks, 
windows, and mirrors broken ; fences burned ; corn, potiitoes, and peas gath- 
ered from the barns and fields consumed ; iron safes dug to pieces and thrown 
out of doors, and their contents stolen." — Richmond Examiner, November 
26, 1862. 



292 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

General Averill, then at Green Spring, on the Upper Potomac, 
was also directed to move in pursuit. General Crook, who 
was at Hancock, en route for Western Virginia, was instructed 
to embark his division on the cars, and be in readiness to move 
to any point above Hancock, should Stuart attempt to cross in 
that direction. The commander at Harper's Ferry, was direc- 
ted to keep a vigilant watch over the fords in his vicinity ; Gen- 
eral Burnside was to send two brigades on the cars to Monocacy 
Junction, to remain there without disembarking, with steam up, 
ready to move to any point on the railroad at which Stuart 
might be aiming. Colonel Rush, at Frederick, was to keep 
his lancers scouring the approaches from Chambersburg, in 
order to warn General Burnside of Stuart's arrival ; and Gen- 
eral Stoneman, whose headquarters were at Poolesville, guard- 
ing with his division the fords below the mouth of the Mono- 
cacy, w^as ordered to watch for Stuart, and prevent his crossing 
the river.* 

*' After these orders were given for covering all the fords 
upon the river," says General McClellan, " I did not think it 
possible for Stuart to recross, and I believed that the capture or 
destruction of his entire force was perfectly certain." Indeed 
it seemed so ; but General Stuart was equal to the emergency. 

He was ignorant, of course, of the fact that all of the Fed- 
eral cavalry, and four or five divisions of infantry were trying 
to intercept him, but he was very certain that the division of 
General Crook, which he had missed so narrowly on his advance, 
would try to cut him off from the Upper Potomac, and, after 
mature deliberation, he determined to return by way of Lees- 
burg, which was the most direct route. 

Leaving Chambersburg on the morning of the 11th, General 
Stuart moved directly to Gettysburg, for the purpose of deceiv- 
ing the inhabitants of the country as to his real destination. 

* General McClellan's Report, pp. 408, 409. 



MCCLELLAN ADVANCES. 293 

After passing the Blue Ridge he retraced his steps, turned back 
towards Hagerstown for six or eight miles, and then marched 
rapidly through Emmettsburg, where he was received with 
enthusiasm by the inhabitants. Just before his arrival at this 
place, a party of Rush's Lancers, which had been sent out from 
Frederick to watch for him, passed by. Without halting, 
Stuart pushed on towards Frederick, and on the way captured 
a messenger with a dispatch from Colonel Rush, which, while 
it satisfied General Stuart that his locality was unknown to the 
enemy, gave him an idea of the arrangements that had been 
made to intercept him. 

Meanwhile the Federal cavalry, under Averill and Pleas- 
anton, were pushing on at the utmost speed, straining every 
nerve to overtake the Confederates, but Stuart, now warned 
of his danger, quickened his march, aiming straight for the 
Potomac. The Monocacy was crossed a short distance above 
Frederick, and the march was continued through the night, by 
way of Liberty, New Market, and Monrovia on the Baltimore 
and Ohio Railroad. By daylight on the 13th, the command 
was at Hyattstown, " on McClellan's line of wagon communi- 
cation with Washington." Only a few wagons were captured, 
and the column pressed on to Barnesville, which had been 
vacated by a squadron of Federal cavalry but a short while 
before. 

On the march General Stuart had learned something of the 
plan of General McClellan, besides what he gained from the 
dispatch from Colonel Rush. Now, however, the whole plan 
was revealed to him, and he was informed that a division of five 
thousand men was guarding the fords in his front. Believing 
that the boldest course was the safest, he determined to push 
right on to the Potomac, and, if necessary, cut his way through 
the enemy to the Virginia shore. He started at once for Pooles- 
ville, but arriving within two or three miles of it, turned 



294 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

abruptly to the right, and, inarching through the woods, gained 
the road leading from Poolesville to the mouth of the Mon- 
ocacj. 

In a few minutes after entering the road, the advanced 
squadron encountered the head of the column of General Pleas- 
anton, which had just come up, moving towards Poolesville. 
General Stuart at once charged with this squadron, and drove 
the enemy's cavalry back upon their infantry, which now ad- 
vanced to regain the ground lost by their cavalry. Instantly 
Lee's sharpshooters sprang from their horses, and engaged the 
Federal skirmshers, holding them in check until the artillery 
(one gun) in advance, came up. Pelham promptly opened his 
gun. Under the cover of this fire, and partly screened by the 
ridge which Pelham occupied. General Stuart moved tlie com- 
mand to White's Ford, driving off, with the rest of his artillery, 
a force of about two hundred Federal infantry on the Virginia 
t^hore. Fortunately the canal was dry, and easily passed, and 
the column crossed over to the south side of the Potomac 
" with all the precision of passing a defile on drill." * 

Just as Stuart reached the Virginia shore, the cavalry and 
infantry of General Stoneman arrived in hot haste from Pooles- 
ville. They were met with a sharp fire from Pelham's guns, 
now safely over the river, and prevented from crossing in pur- 
suit. General Stuart retired from the river during the day, and 
rejoined the army at Winchester on the 14th. f His expedition 

* General Stuart's Eeport. 

t General Lee sent the following dispatch to Eichmond, announcing Stuart's 
return : — 

" WiKCHBSTEE Va., Oct. 14, 1862. 
"How. G. W. RANDOLPH: 

" The cavalry expedition to Pennsylvania has returned safe. They passed 
through Mercersburg, Chambersburg, Emmettsburg, Liberty, New Market, 
Hyattstown, and Burnesville. The expedition crossed the Potomac above 
Williamsport, and recrossed at White's Ford, making the entire circuit, cut- 



MCCLELLAN ADVANCES. 295 

was brilliant, and accomplished with the loss of only two or 
three men wounded, and two missing, who lost their way on 
the march. A large number of horses were collected and 
brought off in safety, and valuable information acquired respect- 
ing the disposition of McClellan's forces. 

Besides this, the cavalry of Generals Pleasanton and Averill 
were so completely broken down by the arduous pursuit that 
their horses were unfit for further service, and the Federal armv 
was compelled to delay its advance until a remount could be 
procured.* 

During the expedition. General Stuart's column marched over 
eighty miles in twenty-four hours, and the pursuing force under 
General Pleasanton marched seventy-eight miles in the same 
time. 

The army under General McClellan now numbered one hun- 
dred and ten thousand men present for duty, f The weather 
was admirably suited to offensive operations, and the Federal 
Government was anxious that so fiivorable a season for an ad- 
vance should not be spent in idleness. 

Two plans presented themselves to General McClellan. To 
move up the valley of the Shenandoah «lirectly against Lee, or 
to enter Virginia east of the Blue Kidge, and endeavor to place 
his army between General Lee and Richmond. The latter plan 
was preferred by President Lincoln, and he promised General 
McClellan, in case he should adopt it, to reenforce him with 
thirty thousand men, which would give him an army of one 
hundred and forty thousand effective men. General McClellan - 
preferred the line of the Shenandoah, as he feared that if he 

ting the enemy's communications, destroying arms, &c., and obtaining many 
recruits. 

R. E. Lee, General." 

* General McClellan's Report, p. 408. 
t General McClellan's Report, p. 422. 



296 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

moved east of the mountains Lee would at once recross the Po- 
tomac into INIaryland.* His advance, however, was delayed so 
long that this danger passed by. The fall rains generally de- 
stroy the fords of the Potomac, and they were so near at hand 
when the Federal army moved, that it was thought by General 
McClellan that Lee would not venture over the river so late in 
the season. f This fact, and the promise of heavy reenforce- 
ments, induced McClellan to decide upon entering Virginia east 
of the Blue Ridge. 

His plan is thus stated in his report. "The plan of cam- 
paign I adopted during the advance, was to move the army 
well in hand parallel to the Blue Ridge, taking Warrenton as 
the point of direction for the main body ; seizing each pass in the 
Blue Ridge by detachments, as we approached it, and guarding 
them after we had passed, as long as they would enable the en- 
emy to trouble our communications with the Potomac. * * * 
We depended upon Harper's Ferry and Berlin for supplies until 
the Manassas Gap Railway was reached ; when that occurred, 
the passes in our rear were to be abandoned, and the army 
massed ready for action or movement in any direction. It was 
my intention, if, upon reaching Ashby's or any other pass, I 
found that the enemy were in force between it and the Potomac, 
in the Valley of the Shenandoah, to move into the Valley and 
endeavor to gain their rear. I hardly hoped to accomplish this, 
but did expect that by striking in between Culpepper Court 
House and Little Washington, I could either separate their 
army and beat them in detail, or else force them to concentrate 
as far back as Gordonsville, and thus place the army of the 
Potomac in position either to adopt the Fredericksburg line of 
advance upon Richmond, or to be removed to the Peninsula, if, 

* General McClellan's Report, p. 428. 
t General McClellan's Eeport, p. 429. 



THE MOVEMENT TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK. 297 

as I apprehended, it were found impossible to supply it by the 
Orange and Alexandria Railroad beyond Culpepper."* 

Still, as the time passed on, and General McClellan did not 
move over the Potomac, President Lincoln sent him, through 
General Halleck, on the 6th of October, a peremptory order to 
advance. From this there was no appeal, and on the 26th of 
October, the Army of the Potomac commenced crossing into 
Virginia at Berlin, five miles below Harper's Ferry. By the 
second of November, the entire army was over the river. 



II. 

THE MOVEMENT TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK. 

As soon as McClellan's advance was reported to him, Gen- 
eral Lee put his army in motion. He detected the true nature 
of his adversary's movement, in spite of the effort made by 
McClellan to mask it by seizing the passes of the Blue Ridge, 
and he at once sent one division of Longstreet's corps to the 
vicinity of Upperville to watch the movements of the Federal 
army. Until he was more positive as to McClellan's inten- 
tions, he was not willing to move from the Valley. Jackson 
was sent to take position on the road between Berryville and 
Charlestown to check any advance of the enemy from Harper's 
Ferry, and prevent them from entering the Valley through the 
passes of the Blue Ridge, and the cavalry were ordered to co- 
operate with him. 

Towards the last of October, the Federal army began to 
withdraw from the mountains and to move towards Warrenton. 
Longstreet's corps at once passed the Blue Ridge and took po- 
sition at Culpepper Court House, which it reached about the 3d 

* General McClellan's lieport, pp. 435, 436. 
38 



298 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

of November. In order to delay the Federal army by exciting 
the fears of General McClellan for the safety of his rear, Gen- 
eral Jackson was ordered to remain for some time near Mill- 
wood. He advanced one of his divisions to the east side of the 
Blue Eidge, and remained west of it with his main body. As 
soon as Longstreet moved to Culpepper, the cavalry were with- 
drawn from the Valley, and sent after him. The danger to 
which this separation of the two portions of the Confederate 
army exposed General Lee, was very great, and would have 
been rashness on the part of that commander, had not it been 
required by the necessities of the case. It is said that both 
General Lee and General Jackson were convinced of their abil- 
ity to foil the designs of General McClellan, in spite of the risk 
attending a division of the army.* 

The Federals gradually concentrated in the neighborhood of 
Warrenton. Their cavalry were thrown out towards Culpep- 
per, and constant skirmishing occurred between them and the 
Southern cavalry, under General Stuart, with varied success. 
Stuart hung constantly around the enemy, watching vigilantly 
for some movement which would reveal their designs. The 
horses of Stuart's men were at this time in bad condition, the 
majority of them having the soi^e tongue and tender hoofs, f yet 
in spite of this, the service rendered by the gallant troopers was 
invaluable. Referring to this part of his army, General Lee 
says, in his report of the campaign, "Its vigilance, activity, 
and courage were conspicuous, and to its assistance is due, in a 
great measure, the success of some of the most important and 
delicate operations of the campaign." 

About this time, while General Lee was awaiting the devel- 

* Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 363. 

t About the 12th of November General Lee stated to the War Department 
that three fourths of his cavalry horses had the sore tongue, and that their 
hoofs were falling off. 



THE MOVEMENT TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK. 299 

opment of his adversary's plan of operations, occurred an event 
which changed the entire programme of the enemy. On the 
7th of November General McClellan, without any warning, 
was suddenly removed from the command of the Army of the 
Potomac. Various reasons have been given for this measure on 
the part of the Federal Government. It was undoubtedly a 
political act. It was believed by the Radical wing of the Re- 
publican party that General McClellan would be the next 
Conservative candidate for the Presidency of the Union, and it 
was thought by them a Avise measure to remove him from a 
position in which he might add to his popularity with the army 
and people. Their plea was that he had not fulfilled the expec- 
tations of the Government. However much he may have left 
undone, there can be no doubt that General McClellan had 
done too much for his Government and country to merit such 
deep ingratitude from them. The measure was very acceptable 
to the South, and it put an end to the military career of the 
ablest commander the Army of the Potomac ever had. 

The command of that army was assigned to Mujor-General 
Ambrose E. Burnside, its senior corps commander. General 
Burnside had seen considerable service since the commencement 
of the war, and his success on the Southern coast had given 
him a fair reputation in the North. He was an earnest, hard- 
working officer, but, while a good corps commander, was 
incapable of exercising successfully so important a trust. As 
the most intimate friend of General McClellan, he desired the 
continuance of that officers presence at the head of the army, 
and when the command was offered to him, modestly protested 
that he did not want it, having already declined it twice before, 
and that he did not believe himself competent to lead such a 
large army.* It being the desire of the Government, how- 

♦ Report on the Conduct of the War. General Burnside's Testimony. 
Vol. I, p. 650. 



300 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

ever, that he should at least make the trial, General Burnside 
accepted the distinction tendered him. The manliness with 
which he sought to save General McClellan from his political 
enemies, and the modesty with which he met the tempting 
offer of his Government, were noble qualities in the new com- 
mander-in-chief, and contrast strikingly with the conduct of 
General Pope under similar circumstances. 

The first measure of General Burnside was to reorganize 
his army. It consisted at that time of six corps cParmee. 
These he consolidated into three grand divisions, — the Right 
Grand Division, consisting of Couch's (2d) and Wilcox's (9th) 
corps, was assigned to General Sumner ; the Centre Grand 
Division, consisting of Stoneman's (3d) and Butterfield's (5th) 
corps, was given to General Hooker ; and the Left Grand 
Division, consisting of Reynolds' (1st) and W. F. Smith's 
(6th) corps, was given to Genei-al Franklin. This step was 
an error, inasmuch as it involved a halt of ten days at Warren- 
ton, when time was all important to the Federal army. It was 
in reality too late to hope to make a successful campaign 
against Richmond during the remainder of the fall, for the 
season of bad weather and worse roads was at hand, when it 
would be impossible to carry on operations to any considerable 
extent. There was time, however, to strike a blow at the Army 
of Northern Virginia. Its two corps were divided by two 
marches, Jackson being still in the Valley, and this situation 
was one which would have tempted almost any energetic com- 
mander. It was General McClellan's intention to endeavor to 
profit by it when he was removed. General Burnside, how- 
ever, decided not to strike a direct blow at Lee, but to march 
at once to Fredericksburg, and establish himself on the south 
bank of t'le Rappaliannock before Lee could discover his 
design and interfere with it, and in this he committed another 
error. 



THE MOVEMENT TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK. 301 

He seems to have had no idea of using Fredericksburg as a base 
for an imnicdiate advance upon Richmond, for he was opposed 
to an overhand movement — but to have hoped by seizing it to 
secure an excellent place for passing the winter with his army, 
within easy reach of his supplies. He desired to postpone fur- 
ther operations until the spring, when he hoped to be permitted 
by his Government to embark his troops for a movement 
against Richmond from the south side of the James River.* 
He did not as yet impart these views to his Government, but 
simply proposed to change the line ot operations to Fredericks- 
burg. To this proposition Mr. Lincoln consented, and on the 
15th of November, General Burnside commenced to move his 
army from Warrenton. His forces were to move along the 
north bank of the Rappahannock, to Falmouth, where by a 
ponton-bridge, which was to be forwarded from Washington, 
they would cross the river, and occupy the heights in the rear 
of Fredericksburg. 

The movement of Burnside's army was promptly detected by 
General Stuart, and reported to General Lee. It would have 
been easy, had the Southern commander's force been stronger, 
to compel General Burnside to return to the line of the Orange 
and Alexandria Railroad, but as this course would involve a 
general engagement between the two armies. General Lee de- 
cided to await the development of Burnside's intentions. A 
fehort time previous to this he had informed his Government 
that he had not men enough to risk a battle, and preferred 
manoeuvring to doing so, adding that it was not his purpose 
to fight, unless Burnside exposed himself by some great blun- 
der. As the enemy seemed to be moving in the direction of 
Fredericksburg, General Lee, on the 15th, reenforced the gar- 

* For this explanation of General Burnside's intention I am indebted to the 
very able work of Mr. Swinton. See Campaigns of the Army of the Poto- 
maCf p. 233. 



302 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

rison of that place with a regiment of infantry and a battery of 
lio-ht artillery. On the 17th he learned that Sumner's corps 
had marched from Catlett's Station towards Falmouth, and 
that Aquia Creek had been occupied for two days by the Fed- 
eral gunboats and transports. These tidings led him to believe 
that Fredericksburg was the destination of the Federal army, 
and he immediately despatched McLaws' and Ransom's divi- 
sions, of Longstreet's corps, accompanied by W. H. F. Lee's 
brigade of cavalry to that place. On the night of the 17th, 
he wrote to the War Department that Burnside seemed to be 
moving on Fredericksburg, and stated his purpose to follow the 
forces he had already sent there with the whole army as soon 
as the enemy's movement should be confirmed. He added, 
" Before the enemy's trains, can leave Fredericksburg" ( for 
Richmond) "this army will be in position." General Jack- 
son was ordered to withdraw at once from the Valley, and 
occupy Orange Court House. 

In order to ascertain Burnside's movements more fully, Gen- 
eral Stuart was directed to make a reconnoissance north of the 
Rappahannock. On the morning of the 18th, he forced a pas- 
sage of the river at Warrenton Springs, " in the face of a regi- 
ment of cavalry and three pieces of artillery guarding the ford," 
and reached Warrenton shortly after the rear- guard of the ene- 
my left it. The information thus obtained by General Stuart 
convinced General Lee that Burnside was really aiming at 
Fredericksburg, and on the morning of the 19th he marched 
with the remainder of Longstreet's corps for that place. 

The advance of the Federal army was led by General Sum- 
ner, whose grand division arrived opposite Fredericksburg on 
the afternoon of the 17th of November. The town was at this 
time held by one regiment of infantry, four companies of cav- 
alry, and a battery of artillery. General Sumner might have 
crossed the Rappahannock with ease, and have seized the 



WAITING FOR BURNSIDE. 303 

heights back of Fredericksburi; before the arrival of Lee's 
army. He was very anxious to do this, but was prevented by 
orders from General Burnside, who was unwilling to attempt 
a passage of the river before the arrival of the rest of his army.* 

As Sumner's troops appeared on the Stafford shore, they 
were opened upon by Lewis' battery from the heights above 
Fredericksburg. A Federal battery at once replied, and by 
its superior metal and skill soon silenced Lewis' guns. In 
obedience to his orders, Sumner halted opposite the town to 
await the arrival of the rest of the army. By the night of the 
20th, the entire Fedei'al force was concentrated in the neigh- 
borhood of Falmouth, opposite Fredericksburg. 

General Lee moved his troops rapidly, and by the 21st occu- 
pied the heights back of the town with Longstreet's corps, D. 
H. Hill's division, and the cavalry. Jackson's corps was at 
Orange Court House, and on the 26th of November it was 
ordered to rejoin the army in its new position. 



III. 

WAITING FOR BURNSIDE. 

By refusing to allow Sumner to cross the river on his arrival 
at Falmouth, General Burnside lost his only chance for a suc- 
cessful occupation of the position he coveted, for when his 
whole army arrived on the north bank of the Rappahannock, 
it was only to find the enemy he had hoped to elude confronting 
him on the heights he had meant to seize, and ready to dispute 
with him the passage of the river. This being the case, there 
was nothing left for General Burnside, but to wait until he 
could establish his communications by way of Aquia Creek, and 

♦ General Sumner's Evidence before Congressional Committee. 



304 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

prepare his army for the grand assault on the new Southern 
line. He disposed his troops along the north bank of the river, 
from a point above Falmouth to the neighborhood of Port Con- 
way, opposite Port Royal. His base of supplies was established 
at Aquia Creek, and the railroad from that point to the Rap- 
pahannock rebuilt. 

Meanwhile General Lee was busy in preparing his new de- 
fiensive line. To prevent the Federal gunboats from ascendmg 
the Rappahannock to Burnside's assistance, a battery, protected 
by intrenchraents, was posted on the river bank four miles 
below the city. The fords of the Rappahannock above Fred- 
ericksburg were closely guarded by the cavalry, and W. H. F. 
Lee's brigade was stationed at Port Royal to watch the enciny 
in that direction. A strong defensive position was selected on 
the heights in the rear of the city. The left rested on the river 
about a mile and a half above Fredericksburg, and the right 
was beyond the Richmond railroad, stretching almost to the 
Massaponax. These hills were commanded by the Stafford 
Heights in possession of Burnside, and in order to remedy this 
as far as possible, earthworks were constructed upon their crest, 
at the most suitable positions for artillery. The plain in which 
the city lay was so completely commanded by the batteries on 
the opposite heights, and the narrow river, with its high, shel- 
tering banks, afforded such admirable opportunities for laying 
down bridges out of reach of the Southern artillery, that Gen- 
eral Lee had no hope of being able to prevent the passage of 
the stream, should the enemy see fit to attempt it. Therefore 
he selected his position solely with a view to resist the advance 
of the Federals after crossing, and contented himself with 
guarding the river with a small force, with which he hoped to 
impede the progress of the enemy until the army could be con- 
centrated.* 

By the 21st it was evident that the whole force of the Fed- 

* General Lee's Report. 



WAITING FOR BURNSIDE. 305 

erals had reached Falmouth. On the afternoon of the same 
day, General Patrick, of the Federal army, crossed the river, 
under a flag of truce, bearing a letter from General Sumner, 
addressed to the authorities of Fredericksburg, demanding the 
surrender of the city by five o'clock. General Sumner threat- 
ened that if tliis demand \vcre refused, he would bombard the 
city at nine o'clock the next morning. 

For two days a severe storm had been raging, and was still 
unabated when this demand was received. The authorities of 
the city were placed in a trying position. It was not to be 
supposed tiiat General Lee w^ould allow the place to be occupied 
by the Federals without resistance, and it lay perfectly exposed 
to the fire of the Federal batteries, which looked right down 
into its streets. Vs'ith the hope of sparing the city the horrors 
of a bombardment, General Lee informed the municipal au- 
thorities that the place would not be used by him for military 
purposes, but that he would resist any attempt of the enemy to 
occupy it. Thus authorized, the Mayor and Council assured 
General Sumner that the city would not be used for hostile 
pui'pose by the Confederates, unless he should attempt to occupy 
it, and asked him to forbear his threatened bombardment. 
General Sumner, to his credit, very readily accepted the pledge, 
and promised to defer the bombardment as long as the pledge 
was respected by the Confederates. 

In view, however, of the certainty of an early engagement. 
General Lee advised the non-combatants to withdraw from the 
city. The majority of the citizens did so, and sought shelter 
wherever they could find it in the neighboring country. The 
w^eather was intensely cold, and their sufferings were very 
great. Many — indeed the majority — of them were houseless 
and homeless, and they took refuge in barns, sheds, shelters of 
boughs, and tent flies generously contributed by the troops. 
Here, exposed to the cold and wet, they waited until the period 
39 



306 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

of dano-ei- had passed by. Women who had been reared in 
wealth and ease had scarcely clothing enough to keep them from 
freezino' ; they could with difficulty procure food, and consid- 
ered tliemselves fortunate if they could obtain a bundle of straw 
for a bed — many being forced to sleep on the ground. Only 
those who witnessed this can form a just appreciation of these 
heroic people. All this while they never murmured. If the 
sacrifice of their homes would contribute to the success of their 
cause they were willing to give them up. 

The citizens of the South contributed generously to their 
relief when their sufferings became known, and the Army of 
Northern Virginia, although suffering for food, shared its scanty 
rations with the women and children who had fled from the 
town. Many of the citizens remained in Fredericksburg. 
They had no other homes, and they preferred to stay, and risk 
the bombardment, hoping that the Federal commander would 
not execute his barbarous threat. General Lee pays a high 
compliment to the citizens of Fredericksburg, in his report of 
the campaign. "History," he says, "presents no instance 
of a people exhibiting a purer and more unselfish patriotism, or 
a higher spirit of fortitude and courage than was evinced by the 
citizens of Fredericksburg. They cheerfully incurred great 
hardships and privations, and surrendered their homes and prop- 
erty to destruction rather than yield them into the hands of the 
enemies of their country." 

After the completion of his preparations for supplying his 
army from Aquia Creek, General Burnside turned his attention 
to securing a passage of the Rappahannock. As I have stated, 
his own desire was to defer active operations until the spring. 
This, however, was not tlie wish of either the Government or 
people of the North. Both were urgent in their demands for 
an advance upon Lee. They were anxious that the "Rebel 
^unn^ should be defeated and Richmond captured before Christ- 



WAITrNG FOR BURNSIDE. 307 

mas." This pressure was greater than General Burnside had 
anticipated, and too strong to be resisted by him, and he was 
forced, against his incHnation, to abandon his own designs, and 
make his preparations for an immediate advance. 

It was in his power either to make a direct attack upon the 
Confederate position, or to pass the river lower down or higher 
up, and endeavor to turn either the Confederate right or left 
flank. A direct attack upon such a strong line as that occupied 
by General Lee did not seem to promise any decided success, 
and General Burnside at first entertained the idea of attempting 
a turnino; movement ao-ainst the Southern rio-ht flank, and com- 
menced to concentrate his army for that purpose at Skenkei-'s 
Neck, twelve miles below Falmouth. General Lee detected 
this movement, liowever, and stationed D. H. Hill opposite 
Skenker's Neck, and ordered General Jackson to take position 
with his corps between Fredericksburg and Port Royal, in order 
to support either Longstreet or Hill, as occasion might require. 
The appearance of these troops upon the Lower Rappahannock 
convinced General Burnside that his designs were understood, 
and the movement against Lee's right was abandoned. There 
was still left to Burnside a movement which promised more suc- 
cess thaii a direct attempt to carry the Spottsylvania Heights. 
It was to cross the Rappahannock higher up the stream, and 
move against Lee's left flank. As this movement would 
threaten the Confederate commander's communications with 
Richmond, it would, if vigorously sustained, force General Lee 
to leave his works behind Fredericksburg, and meet the Federal 
army upon ground of their own choosing. This plan does not 
seem to have been entertained by General Burnside. He seems 
to have been influenced by the belief that by sending Hill and 
Jackson to the vicinity of Port Royal, Lee had committed an 
error of which he could take advantage, and he resolved to cross 
the river at Fredericksburg, and attack General Lee before the 



308 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

latter could reunite his forces. In other words he hoped, by 
surprising his enemy, to throw his whole army upon Long-street's ' 
corps alone — a remarkable programme, truly, for so old a 
soldier as the Federal commander. 

Information gathered by General Hampton, who, with his 
cavalry, crossed the Rappahannock above Fredericksburg, on 
the 28th of November, and penetrated as far as Dumfries, (cap- 
turing two squadrons of Federal cavalry, and a number of 
wagons,) relieved General Lee of any anxiety concerning his 
left flank, and enabled him to give his whole attention to the 
enemy opposite and below him. 



FREDERICKSBURG. 

On the night of the 10th of December, the Chief of Artillery 
of the Federal army, General Hunt, posted on the Stafford 
Heights, immediately opposite Fredericksburg and for some 
distance below, a powerful force of one hundred and forty-seven 
guns, with which to protect the passage of the river and com- 
mand the city and adjacent plain. Simultaneously the Federal 
columns were formed on the heights, but a few hundred yards 
from the stream, and the ponton trains were moved down to 
the water's edge. 

Burnside had determined to bridge the river at five diflerent 
points, — three immediately opposite Fredericksburg, and two 
about a mile and a half lower down, near the mouth of Deep 
Run. The Grand Divisions of Sumner and Hooker were to 
cross at the upper bridges, while Franklin's Grand Division 
was to cross at the lower bridges, near Deep Run. His prep- 
arations were made with great care, and at two o'clock on the 



FREDERICKSBURG. 309 

morning of the 11th of Decenaber, the working parties moved 
down to the water's edge, and, silently launching the boats, 
proceeded to the construction of the bridges. 

In order to check any advance of the enemy until his army 
could be concentrated, General Lee had posted detachments of 
riflemen along the Southern shore, with orders to them to pre- 
vent the construction of bridges as long as poss^ible, and gain as 
much time as they could. The force charged with this duty at 
Fredericksburg, consisted of the 17th and 18th Mississippi reg- 
iments, of Barksdale's brigade, supported by the 8tli Florida, 
of Anderson's division. The 3d Georgia regiment of Ander- 
son's division was also held in reserve in the city. 

A heavy fog floated over .the Rappahannock on the night of 
the ]Oth, and the morning of the 11th of December, and the 
Federal commander ho[)ed that this would screen his working 
parties from observation until their work should be too far ac- 
complished to be prevented. Shortly after two o'clock, how- 
ever, the unusual stir on the Stafford shore attracted the atten- 
tion of the Confederate pickets, and at three o'clock, two guns 
in quick succession from the Southern lines, announced that the 
movement of General Burnside had been discovered. Barks- 
dale's men were instantly on the alert. 

Towards four o'clock, the moonliii-ht, struQ-fjlino; throuQ-h the 
mist, revealed the shadowy forms of the bridge builders, work- 
ing energetically upon their floating structures. Instantly a 
sharp and destructive fire was opened from the south shore, 
where the Southern riflemen were posted among the buildings 
and stone walls of the river street of the city. The fire was de- 
liberate, and the working parties at once scampered off the 
bridges, leaving their dead and wounded upon them. In a few 
minutes they returned and bore them off. Twice between this 
and dawn did the enemy attempt to continue their work. Each 
time their engineer troops went to the end of the bridges and 



310 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

attempted to complete them, but each time they were driven 
back with loss. So destructive was Barksdale's fire that two 
resiments of Federal infantry, sent to cover their workinfj 
parties, soon lost one hundred and fifty men.* Every effort of 
the enemy failed to push forward the work, and the Federal 
commander found that he could do nothing until the Mississippi- 
ans were dislodged. 

Accordingly, at ten o'clock, he ordered his batteries to open 
upon the soutiiern shore. For more than an hour this tremen- 
dous bombardment was maintained. It accomplished very 
little, however, as the Southern army was too f:xr distant to be 
injured by it, and Barksdale's men were too near the edge of 
the water to be reached, the Federal artillerists being unable to 
depress their guns sufficiently to shell the position of the sharp- 
shooters. Only those in the upper part of the city were injured 
by it. 

The bombardment of Fredericksburg was a useless and bar- 
barous measure. The troops of Barksdale's brigade were shel- 
tered from the Federal fire, and in consequence of this the 
Northern guns were directed upon the city, which General 
Burnside knew to be full of women and children at the time. 
Many of the citizens had returned with their families after the 
first alarm, believing that the city would not be shelled. The 
river is so narrow at this point — it is only about two hundred 
yards in width — that the presence of these helpless people 
could not have escaped the notice of the Federal commander. 
Moreover, he had authorized General Sumner to promise 
that the city should not be fired upon as long as it was not 
used for hostile demonstrations by the Confederates. As he 
was informed of General Lee's determination to prevent him 
from occupying it, this promise, at least, demanded that he 
should give notice of his intention to fire upon the city at r-ny 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 249. 



FREDERICKSBURG . 311 

subsequent time. He did not do this, however, but wantonly 
opened his guns, at point blank range, upon the town. 

The scene which ensued was frightful. The air was filled 
with deafening reports, and the opposite heights seemed to be 
literally on fire. Storms of shell, round sliot, and grape swept 
through the streets, amidst the terrified citizens as they fled in 
dismay towards the open country. In a short while the town 
was fired, and there was scarcely a house that had not suffered 
more or less from the terrible cannonade of the enemy. The 
citizens, taken by surprise, had no time to prepare for their 
flight, and rushed out into the open country just as they had 
been attired by their comfortable firesides. One young girl was 
shot through the liip, and several of tiie inhabitants otherwise 
injured. Some of the citizens, rather than brave the storm of 
missiles that swept through the streets, crouched in the cellars 
of their houses, momentarily expecting to be buried in tlie ruins 
of the buildings. 

An eye-witness thus describes the sufferings of those who 
were driven from the city : — 

" The citizens, several hundred in number, who had returned 
to the town under the delusion that it would not be attacked, 
left it during the day, single or in families, and sought for 
refuge and .safety in the country. They are now sc:>,ttered 
about, some in cabins and some in the open air. This morning 
(the 12th) I met two women, each with an infant and several 
little children, wandering along the railroad. The children 
were all bare-footed, and it made the heart bleed to see their 
little blue feet treading painfully the frozen ground, blindly 
following their poor mothers who knew as little as themselves 
where to seek food and shelter. Nearer the town I saw three 
women with a number of children, who had established them- 
selves in a three-sided shelter built of rails, and covered and 
lined with wheat straw. * * * j^ two cabins, within a 



312 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

mile and i half of the town, between twenty and thirty women 
and child"eu were crowded. An old gentleman who was stand- 
ino- near one of the huts, infoi'mcd me that at the time of the 
threat of the enemy to shell the town, he had moved his house- 
hold 2:oods and personal property into the country, but that a 
few days ago, thinking there was no danger, he had carried 
them back. His house was burnt yesterday, and everything he 
had in the Avorld consumed in it." 

These sio^hts were but too common at the time. 

By the bombardment of Fredericksburg General Burnside 
accomplished nothing except to inflict great suffering upon the 
helpless inhabitants. Under the cover of this cannonade, he 
made another eiFort to build his bridges, but failed. He had 
not yet succeeded in dislodging the Southern riflemen, and the 
afternoon of the day had arrived. 

In this state of aflfairs his Chief of Artillery advised him to 
cross a strong party in ponton-boats, and drive the Mississip- 
pians from the river shore. This done, his artillery could keep 
the town clear of them, and the bridge could be finished.* 
Acting upon this advice, Burnside threw three regiments across 
the river in boats, in the face of a sharp fire, and by one o'clock 
succeeded in driving Barksdale's infantry into the upper part 
of the city. The bridges were completed in a few minutes, 
and later in the afternoon Howard's division of Couch's corps 
crossed the river and entered the town. Barksdale resisted the 
advance of the enemy with great gallantry until dark, when his 
troops were withdrawn by General Lee. 

Franklin's passage of the river was more easily effected. 
The Confederates opposed to him did not enjoy the advantages 
which were afforded Barksdale's men by the buildings at Fred- 
ericksburg. By noon this force had been driven off, and 
Franklin had succeeded in constructino- two brido;es. 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 241. 



FEEDERICKSBURG. 313 

During the night of tlie 11th and all of the 12th, General 
Burnside crossed liis army to tlie Spottsylvania shore, and the 
morning of the 13th found his entire force in front of the 
Southern position. A heavy fog sheltered his movements from 
material interruption from the Confederate artilleiy, General 
Lee being unwilling to open his guns on the town in considera- 
tion of its still being occupied by a number of its citizens. 

As soon as Burnside's intentions were developed, Generals 
D. H. Hill and Jackson we recalled from Port Royal, and by 
the morning of the 13th the entire Army of Northern Virginia 
was concentrated on the heights of Spottsylvania. 

The position occupied by General Lee was one of great 
strength. " Longstreet's corps constituted the left, with 
Anderson's division resting upon the river, and those of Mc- 
Laws, Pickett and Hood extending to the right in the order 
named. Ransom's divisions supported the batteries on Marye's 
and Willis' hills, at the foot of which Cobb's brigade of Mc- 
Laws' division, and the 24th North Carolina, of Ransom's brig- 
ade, were stationed, protected by a stone wall. The immedi- 
ate care of this point was committed to General Ransom. The 
Washington Artillery occupied the redoubts on the crest of 
Marye's Hill, and those on the height to tlie right and left, were 
held by a part of the reserve artillery. Colonel E. P. Alexan- 
der's battalion, and the division batteries of Anderson, Ran- 
som and McLaws. A. P. Hill of Jackson's corps, was posted 
between Hood's right, and Hamilton's Crossing, on the rail- 
road. His front line, consisting of the brigades of Pender, 
Lane, and Archer, occupied the edge of a wood. Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Walker, with fourteen pieces of artillery was 
posted near the right, supported by the 40th and 35th Virginia 
regiments, of Field's brigade, commanded by Colonel Brocken- 
borough. Lane's brigade, thrown forward in advance of the 
general line, held the woods, which here projected into the open 
40 



314 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

ground. Thomas' brigade was stationed behind the interval 
between Lane and Pender, and Gregg's in rear of that, between 
Lane and Archer. These two brigades, with the 47tb Virginia 
regiment, and 22nd Virginia battalion, of Field's brigade, con- 
stituted General Hill's reserve. Early's and Taliaferro's divi- 
sions composed Jackson's second line — D. H. Hill's division 
his reserve. His artillery was distributed along his line in the 
most eligible positions, so as to command the open ground in 
front. General Stuart, with two brigades of cavalry, and his 
horse artillery, occupied the plain on Jackson's right, extending 
to Alassaponax Creek."* 

The range of hills on which this line was formed, encloses a 
semi-circular plain extending from its base to the river. On 
the Southern left the range touches the river, at a distance of 
less than a quarter of a mile from the city, and sweeping around 
towards the right, crosses the Richmond Railroad, at a distance 
of about two miles from the river, making the line held by the 
Confederates about five miles in length. The country between 
the hills and the river is to a great extent rugged, and almost 
entirely open. Immediately above the town, on the Southern 
left, the lulls are bold and without trees or undergrowth, but as 
the range extends to the eastward the elevation decreases, and 
the ridge becomes more thickly wooded. The plain below the 
hills is intersected by a small stream called Deep Run, whose 
precipitate banks afford an admirable shelter for an attacking 
force. The Southern position was, as I have said, one of great 
strength, and when the battle opened there were few who 
doubted that the attempt to carry it would be repulsed. 

liaving failed to surprise General Lee, General Burnside now 
resolved to storm his position and drive the Southern army 
from it. His plan was substantially, as follows : Franklin's 
Grand Division, which formed the Union left, strengthened by 

* General Lee's Eeport. 



FKEDERICKSBURG. 315 

one of Hooker's corps — about one half of the Federal army — 
was to assault Jackson's position at Hamilton's Crossing, which 
was correctly supposed to be the weakest part of the line, and 
when this should be successfully accomplished, Sumner, with 
the rest of the army, was to storm the heights on the Southern 
left. FrankHn was directed to endeavor to seize the railroad 
and wagon road leading to Ilichmond. 

On the morning of the 13th of December, the country im- 
mediately around Fredericksburg was shrouded in a dense fog. 
At an early hour the enemy's batteries on the Stafford Heights 
opened on Longstreet's position, and under the cover of this 
fire Franklin and Sumner formed their columns of attack. 

About eight o'clock General Lee left his headquarters, and, 
accompanied by Generals Jackson and Stuart passed over to 
Hamilton's Crossing to inspect that portion of his line. The 
correspondent of the London Times, who was present during the 
action, thus speaks of the Confederate commander, as he 
appeared on this memorable day. " It would be presumptuous 
in me to say one word in commendation of the serenity or, if I 
may so express it, the unconscious dignity of General Lee's 
courage, when he is under fire. No one who sees and knows 
his demeanor in ordinary life would expect anything else from 
one so calm, so undemonstrative and unassuming. But the 
description applied, after the battle of the Alma, to Lord Rag- 
lan, by Marshal St. Arnaud, and in which, noticing Lord 
Raglan's unconsciousness under fire, he speaks of his ' antique 
heroism,' seems to me so applicable to General Lee that I can- 
not forbear recalling it here. At a subsequent period of the 
day. General Lee assumed his station on the hill which takes its 
name from him, and thence, in company with General Long- 
street, calmly watched the repulse of the repeated Federal efforts 
against the heisjhts on which he stood." 

Shortly after nine o'clock the fog lifted, and disclosed in the 



316 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

plain below the columns of General Franklin moving against 
Hamilton's Crossing. As they advanced, Major Pelham of the 
Stuart Hofse Artillery, who was stationed with one section of 
his battery on the Port Royal road, opened a severe enfilade 
fire upon their left, causing them to halt. Four Federal bat- 
teries at once opened on him, but he sustained his position 
bravely until withdrawn by General Stuart. As soon as I slham 
was withdrawn, Franklin extended his left down the Port Royal 
road, and opened a heavy fire upon Jackson's line from his bat- 
teries. No reply being returned, he threw forward his infantry 
towards the position occupied by Walker's guns. The Confed- 
erates awaited the approach of the enemy in silence, until the 
Federal line was within less than eight hundred yards. Then 
Walker greeted them with the sudden fire of fourteen guns, 
which did such execution that the enemy broke and fell back to 
their original position. 

This was merely the beginning of the engagement. About 
one o'clock Franklin made his m-ain attack. Throwing forward 
three " compact lines of infantry," he made a vigorous assault 
upon General A. P. Hill's position. His advance was moment- 
arily checked by the fire of Hill's artillerj^, but pressing on in 
spite of this, he was soon hotly engaged with the Southern 
infantry. Between the brigades of Archer and Lane there was, 
unfortunately, a considerable interval, and before this could be 
closed, Meade's two divisions broke through it with great impet- 
uosity, and drove back Hill's men upon Jackson's second line. 
Jackson met the danger promptly by bringing up his second 
line, consisting of the divisions of Early, Trimble, and Talia- 
ferro. These troops assailed the enemy in front, and on both 
flanks, and drove them back across the railroad, and into the 
plain; Taliaferro's division advanced upon Early's left and 
driving the enemy from the woods in its front, compelled them 
to take refuge in the cut of the railroad, from which they were 



FREDERICKSBURG. 317 

dislodged by the brigades of Hoke and Atkinson and forced to 
retreat across the plain to the protection of their batteries. The 
division attacking Jackson's extreme left was driven back by the 
fire of his artillery. Early, following up his success drove the 
enemy in confusion across the plain, and only ceased his pursuit 
when his line came vmder the fire of the batteries on the Stafford 
Heights. 

The efforts of Franklin had now been decisively repulsed, 
and during the remainder of the day, he contented himself with 
shelling the Southern line, and skirmishing with Jackson's 
advanced forces. 

Meanwhile Sumner had endeavored to execute the task 
assigned to him. About eleven o'clock he commenced to move 
forward from the town, forming a strong column of assault, 
under the protection of the houses. Towards noon he emerged 
from the city, with French's and Hancock's divisions, and 
endeavored to seize Marye's and Willis' hills. His attack was 
made with great spirit and determination, and was received with 
a murderous fire of infantry and artillery, under Avhich no troops 
could stand. For awhile the Federals pressed on, but finally 
broke in confusion and fled into the town, sheltering themselves 
behind the houses. In this charge the enemy lost nearly half 
of the troops engaged. The Confederates were exposed to a 
heavy fire from the batteries across the river, but, during the 
remainder of the battle, they paid no attention to this, but con- 
centrated the fire of their artillery upon the Federal infantry 
advancing to the attack. 

Howard's, Sturgis', and Getty's divisions were advanced by 
Sumner, to renew the attack, and when these were broken and 
driven back by Longstreet's fatal fire. General Burnside sent 
his last reserve, consisting of three divisions, and ordered Gen- 
eral Hooker to carry the heights at all hazards. Those who 
saw the Federal commander during this part of the battle, 



318 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

assert that the repeated failures of his army seemed to make 
him desperate. When the third assault on Longstreet's posi- 
tion fiiiled, he left his headquarters at the Phillips House, about 
a mile back from the river, and riding down to the bank of the 
Rappahannock, paced restlessly up and down, watching the 
battle with anxiety, and exclaiming vehemently, " That crest 
must be carried to-night."* 

Six times the Federal infantry assaulted the heights, and six 
times they were driven back with shattered ranks. They fought 
gallantly, winning the admiration of their opponents. Some 
of their dead were found within pistol-shot of the Southern 
line. Their last assault was made a little before dark. 

The part played by Longstreet's men was by no means so 
easy as some writers have declared. Their position was com- 
manded by the batteries in Stafford, and during the day they 
were subjected to a heavy fire from these guns, as well as to 
the fire of the artillery and infantry of the attacking force in 
their front. In spite of this, however, they held their ground 
with great gallantry, repulsing every assault of tlie enemy with 
slaughter. 

The battle ended at dark. General Burnside had employed 
his whole army during the day, while General Lee had only 
about twenty-five thousand troops engaged, the greater part of 
his army being simply spectators. 

The Confederate loss in the battle was four thousand two 
hundred and one, killed and wounded. About one hundred 
prisoners were taken when the city was entered by the enemy. 
General Cobb was killed, General Gregg mortally wounded, 
and General Cooke severely wounded. The Federal loss was 
twelve thousand three hundred and twenty-one, killed, wounded, 
and missing. General Lee announced the result of the battle 
in the following dispatch to the War Department : — 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 251. 



FREDERICKSBURG. 319 

"To Geseral Cooper: — 

' ' At nine o'clock this morning the enemy attacked our 
right wing, and as the fog lifted, the battle ran along the whole 
line from right to left, until 6 r. m., the enemy being repulsed 
at all points. Thanks be to God. As usual, Ave have to 
mourn the loss of many of our brave men. I expect the battle 
will be renewed at daylight to-morrow morning. 

R. E. Lee." 

During the night the Southern army erected earthworks at 
exposed points, and strengthened its position still more. The 
attack of the enemy had been so easily repulsed, and with f uch 
a small poition of the army that General Lee was confident The 
battle would be renewed the next day, and at dawn on the 
14th his troops were under arms, ready to resist the anticipated 
attack. As he expected to be again assailed, he did not wish 
to lose the advantages of his position by advancing upon the 
enemy.* He was necessarily ignorant of the great damage 
inflicted upon the Federal army, and was unwilling to expose 
his troops to the fire of the batteries in Stafford. These were 
sound reasons for remaining quiet, but, viewing the matter by 
the light of subsequent revelations, it is a pity that General Lee 
did not take General Jackson's advice, and attack Burnside in 
Fredericksburg on the night of the loth. Had he done so, he 
could not have failed to destroy the Army of the Potomac. 

The defeat sustained by the Federal army on the 13th was 
decisive, and when, that night, it crowded into Fredericksburg, 
expecting every moment that General Lee would follow up his 
advantage by a night attack, there were signs of demoralization 
among the men. Under tliese circumstances it became the 
duty of General Burnside to retire at once across the R.appa- 
*'nnnock. He had no reason to believe that General Lee would 

♦General Lee's Report. 



320 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

not attack him. On the contrary, there was every reason to 
suppose that Lee would assume the offensive. The Federal 
army was in no condition to resist, and common sense should 
have induced Burnside to put an end to this danger as soon as 
possible. 

The course he adopted was the reverse of this. He does not 
seem to have known the condition of his army, and resolved to 
form his old corps (the 9th) in column of attack by regiments, 
on the morning of the 14th, and lead it in person in a last 
effort to carry Marye's Hill. He at once issued orders for car- 
rying out his gallant, but foolish resolution. In his evidence 
before the Congressional '' Committee on the conduct of the 
war," he thus describes the result : 

"The order was given, and the order of the attack was 
formed. On the next morning, just before the column was to 
have started, General Sumner came up to me and said : ' Gen- 
eral, I hope you will desist from this attack. I do not know of 
any general officer who approves of it, and I think it will prove 
disastrous to the army.' Advice of that kind from General 
Sumner, who has always been in favor of our advancing when- 
ever it was possible, caused me to hesitate. I kept the column 
of attack formed, and sent over for the corj^s and division com- 
manders and consulted with them. They unanimously voted 
against the attack. I then went over to see the officers of the 
command on the other side, and found that the same opinion 
pi'evailed among them. I then sent for General Franklin, who 
was on the left, and he was of exactly the same opinion. This 
caused me to decide that I ought not to make the attack I had 
contemplated; and besides, inasmuch as the President of the 
United States had told me not to be in haste in making this 
attack — that he would give me all the support he could, but he 
did not want the Army of the Potomac destroyed, — I felt that 
I could not take the responsibility of ordering the attack, not- 



FREDEllICKSBUKG. 321 

witlistanding ray own belief at the time that the works could be 
carried. In the afternoon of that day I again saw the officers, 
and told them that I had decided to withdraw to this side of the 
river all our forces, except cnougli to hold tlie town and the 
bridge heads, but should keep the bridges there for future ope- 
rations in case we wanted to cross again." 

During the fourteenth, the Federal artillery, north of the 
river opened at intervals on the Confederate line. The day 
passed away, without any further hostile demonstration, and 
during the fifteenth there was no change in the situation. On 
the night of the 15th a violent storm of wind and rain set in, 
and General Burnside took advantage of it to retire across the 
river. Yielding to the advice of General Hooker, he decided 
not to attempt to hold the town, and withdraw his entire force, 
taking up his bridges after him. His retreat was discovered by 
the Confederates on the morning of the 16th, but so well per- 
suaded was General Lee that the battle would yet be renewed, 
that he sent the following dispatch to Richmond : 

"Headquarters, Near Fredericksburg, 
December 16. 

" As far as can be ascertained this stormy morning, the ene- 
my has disappeared in our immediate front, and has re-croy:fcd 
the Rappahannock. 

" I presume he is meditating a passage at some other point. 

R. E. Lee." 

No further eflfort was made by the Federal commander, how- 
ever, and the campaign closed with the battle of Fredericksburg, 
the events of which were reported to the Southern Government 
by General Lee, in the following dispatch : 

41 



322 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

" Headquarteks Army Northern Virginia, 
14th December, 1862. 

" The Honorable Secretary of War, Richmond, Va. ; 

"Sir: On the night of the 10th instant, the enemy com- 
menced to throw three bridges over the Rappahannock — two 
at Fredericksburg, and the third about a mile and a quarter 
below, near the mouth of Deep Run. 

" The plain on which Fredericksburg stands is so completely 
commanded by the hills of Stafford, in possession of the enemy, 
that no effectual opposition could be offered to the construction 
of the bridges or the passage of the river, without exposing our 
troops to the destructive fire of his numerous batteries. Posi- 
tions were, therefore, selected to oppose his advance after cross- 
ing. The narrowness of the Rapahannock, its winding course, 
and deep bed, afforded opportunity for the construction of 
bridges at points beyond the reach of our artillery, and the 
banks had to be watched by skirmishers. The latter sheltering 
themselves behind the houses, drove back the working parties 
of the enemy at the bridges opposite the city ; but at the lowest 
point of crossing, where no shelter could be had, our sharp- 
shooters were themselves driven off, and the completion of the 
bridge was effected about noon on the 11th. 

"In the afternoon of that day the enemy's batteries opened 
upon the city, and by dark had so demolished the houses on the 
river bank as to deprive our skirmishers of shelter; and, under 
cover of his guns, he effected a lodgement in the town. 

" The troops, which had so gallantly held their position in 
the city, under the severe cannonade daring the day, resisting 
the advance of the enemyat every step, were withdrawn during 
the night, as were also those, who, with equal tenacity, had 
maintained their post at the lowest bridge. Under cover of 
darkness and of a dense fog, on the 12th, a large force passed 



FREDERICKSBURG. 323 

the river and took position on the right bank, protected by 
their heavy guns on the left. 

" The morning of the 13th, his arrangements for attack be- 
ing completed, about nine o'clock — the movement veiled by a 
fog — he advanced boldly in large force against our right wing. 
General Jackson's corps occupied the right of our line, which 
rested on the railroad; General Longstreet's the left, extend- 
ing along the heights to the Rappahannock, above Fredericks- 
burg. General Stuart, with two brigades of cavalry, was 
posted in the extensive plain on our extreme right. 

" As soon as the advance of the enemy was discovered 
through the fog. General Stuart, with his accustomed prompt- 
ness, moved up a section of his horse artillery, which opened 
with effect upon his flank, and drew upon the gallant Pelham a 
heavy fire, which he sustained, unflinchingly, for about two 
hours. In the meantime the enemy was fiercely encountered 
by General A. P. Hill's division, forming General Jackson's 
right, and, after an obstinate combat, repulsed. During this 
attack, which was protracted and hotly contested, two of Gen- 
eral Hill's brigades were driven back upon our second line. 

*' General Early, with part of his division, being ordered to 
his support, drove the enemy back from the point of woods he 
had seized, and pursued him into the plain, until arrested by 
his artillery. The right of the enemy's column, extending be- 
yond Hill's front, encountered the right of Genernl Hood, of 
Longstreet's corps. The enemy took poc^-f .<-■ ,n ,,f' a small 
copse in front of Hood, but were quickly dispossessed, and 
repulsed with loss. 

" During the attack on our right, the enemy was crossing 
troops over his bridges at Fredericksburg, and massing them in 
front of Longstreet's line. Soon after his repulse on our rigjjt, 
he commenced a series of attacks on our left, with a view of 
obtaining possession of the heights immediately overlooking the 



324 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

town. These repeated attacks were repulsed, in gallant style, 
by the Washington Artillery, under Colonel Walton, and a 
portion of McLaws' division, which occupied these heights. 

" The last assault was made after dark, when Colonel Alex- 
ander's battalion had relieved the Washington Artillery, (whose 
ammunition had been exhausted,) and ended the contest for the 
day. The enemy was supported in his attacks by the fire of 
strong batteries of artillery on the right bank of the river, as 
well as by his numerous heavy batteries on the Stafford 
Heights. 

" Our loss during the operations, since the movements of the 
enemy began, amounts to about eighteen hundred, killed and 
wounded. Among the former, I regret to report the death 
of the patriotic soldier and statesman, Brigadier-General 
Thomas R. R. Cobb, who fell upon our left ; and among the 
latter, that brave soldier and accomplished gentleman, Briga- 
dier-General Maxcy Gregg, who was very seriously, and it is 
feared, mortally wounded during the attack on our right. 

' ' The enemy to-day has been apparently engaged in caring 
for his wounded and burying his dead. His troops are visible 
in their first position in line of battle, but, with the exception 
of some desultory cannonading and firing between skirmishers, 
he has not attempted to renew the attack. About five hundred 
and fifty prisoners were taken during the engagement, but the 
full extent of his loss is unknown. 

" I have the honor to be, very respectfully. 

Your obedient servant, 

R. E. Lee, General." 

(Official.) 
Charles Marshall, Major and A. D. C" 



WINTER QUARTERS. 325 



V. 

WINTER QUARTERS. 

When it became certain that the Federal army had no inten- 
sion of renewing hostilities, the Army of Northern Virginia was 
ordered to prepare for going into winter quarters. The army 
was disposed along the Rappahannock, from Fredericksburg to 
Port Royal, and detachments of observation stationed in the vi- 
cinity of the upper fords. Soon the winter set in in full rigor, 
and the men went to work to make themselves as comfortable 
as possible in their rude huts and shelters. 

The year was closed by Genera] Lee with an address to his 
army, congratulating the men upon their achievements. 

"Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia, 
December 31, 1862. 

" GENERAL ORDER, 
No. 132. 

" The General commanding takes this occasion to express to 
the officers and soldiers of the army, his high appreciation of 
the fortitude, valor, and devotion displayed by them, which, 
under the blessing of Almighty God, have added the victory 
of Fredericksburg to the long list of their triumphs. 

" An arduous march performed with celerity under many 
disadvantages exhibited the discipline and spirit of the troops, 
and their eagerness to confront the foe. 

" The immense army of the enemy completed its prepara- 
tions for the attack without interruption and gave battle in its 
own time, and on ground of its own selection. 

" It was encountered by less than twenty thousand of this 



326 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

brave army, and its columns crushed and broken, hurled back 
at every point with such fearful slaughter that escape from 
entire destruction became the boast of those who had advanced 
in full confidence of victory. 

" That this great result was achieved with a loss small in 
point of numbers, only augments the admiration with which 
the Commanding General regards the prowess of the troops, 
and increases his gratitude to Him who hath given us the vic- 
tory. 

" The war is not yet ended. The enemy is still numerous 
and strong, and the country demands of the army a renewal of 
its heroic efforts in her behalf. Nobly has it responded to her 
call in the past, and she will never appeal in vain to its courage 
and patriotism. 

" The signal manifestations of Divine mercy that have dis- 
tinguished the eventful and glorious campaign of the year just 
closing, give assurance of hope that under the guidance of the 
same Almighty hand the coming year will be no less fruitful 
of events that will ensure the safety, peace and happiness of our 
beloved country, and add new lustre to the already imperishable 
name of the Army of Northern Virginia. 

E. E. Lee, General.'' 

The winter was intensely cold, and as early as the middle 
of December several of the Federal pickets were frozen to death. 
The Confederate troops suffered severely. They were budly 
clothed, and poorly provided for the winter. About the first of 
December General Lee wrote to the War Department, stating 
that several thousand of his men were barefooted. lie advised 
the Government to seize for the use of the army the shoes in the 
hands of the speculators, paying a fiiir price for them. The 
Government, however, did not see fit to do this. The system 
of impressments was so managed throughout the war as to give 



WINTER QUARTERS. 327 

the greatest dissatisfaction to the people, and to afford the small- 
est amount of benefit to the army. The Quartermaster-Gen- 
eral's office was never filled by a competent person, and the 
army was a constant suflPerer from its incapacity. 

General Lee fared little better than his men. Late into the 
winter he steadily refused to establish his headquarters in a 
house, and throughout the entire campaign from Richmond to 
Fredericksburg, his quarters were in the field, and many of his 
staff slept under tent-flies only until the weather became too 
cold for them to do so. This was fully appreciated by the men, 
who were resolved that their commander should hear no mur- 
murs from them, since he so generously shared their privations. 
An English gentleman who visited General Lee's headquarters 
during the fall, thus describes what he saw and heard there : — 
" In visiting the headquarters of the Confederate Generals, 
but particularly those of General Lee, any one accustomod to 
see European armies in the field, cannot fail to be struck with 
the great absence of all the pom[i and circumstance of war in 
and around their encampments. Lee's headquarters consisted 
of about seven or eight pole tents, pitched with their backs to a 
stake fence, upon a piece of ground so rocky that it was 
unpleasant to ride over it, its only recommendation being a 
little stream of good water which flowed close by the General's 
tent. In front of the tents were some three four-wheeled 
wagons, drawn up without any regularity, and a number of 
horses roamed loose about the field. The servants, who were 
of com-se slaves, and the mounted soldiers, called ' couriers,' 
who always accompany each General of division in the field, 
were unprovided with tents, and slept in or under the wagons. 
Wagons, tents, and some of the horses were marked U. S., 
showing that part of that huge debt in the North has gone to 
furnishing even the Confederate Generals with camp equip- 
ments. No guard or sentries were to be seen in the vicinity ; 



328 LIFK OF GENERAL LEE. 

no crowd of aids-de-camp loitering about, making themselves 
agreeable to visitors, and endeavoring to save their Generals 
from receiving tliose who have no particular business. A large 
farm-house stands close by, which, in any other army, would 
have been the General's residence pro tem., but, as no liberties 
are allowed to be taken with personal property in Lee's army, 
he is particular in setting a good example himself. Flis staff 
are crowded together, two or three in a tent ; none are allowed 
to carrv more bagn;age than a small box each, and his own kit 
is but very little larger. Every one who approaches him, does 
so with marked respect, although there is none of that bowing 
and flourishing of forage caps which occurs in the presence of 
European Generals ; and, while all honor him and place im- 
plicit faith in his courage and ability, those with whom he is 
most intimate feel for him the affection of sons to a father. Old 
General Scott was correct in saying that Avhen Lee joined the 
Southern cause, it v/as worth as much as the accession of 
twenty thousand men to the ' rebels.' Since then, every injury 
that it was possible to inflict, the Northerners have heaped upon 
him. His house on the Pamunkey River was burnt to the 
ground, and the slaves carried away, many of them by force, 
while his residence on the ArliuQ-ton Hei^'hts was not onlv 
gutted of its furniture, but even the very relics of George 
Washington were stolen from it, and paraded in triumph in the 
saloons of New York and Boston. Notwithstanding all these 
personal losses, however, when speaking of the Yankees, he 
neither evinced any bitterness of feeling, nor gave utterance to 
a single violent expression, but alluded to many of his former 
friends and companions among them, in the kindest terms. He 
spoke as a man proud of the victories won by his country, and 
confident of ultimate success, under the blessing of the Al- 
mighty, whom he glorified for past successes, and whose aid he 
invoked for all future operations. He regretted that his limited 



■WINTER QUARTERS. 329 

supply of tents and available accommodation would prevent him 
from putting us up, but he kindly placed at our disposal horses, 
or a two-horse wagon, if we preferred it, to drive about in." 

During the winter General Lee endeavored to remedy several 
evils in his army. In the campaigns of 1862, he had suffered 
very great inconvenience in consequence of having inferior 
artillery, and a poor quality of fixed ammunition. In order to 
remedy the evil as far as possible, he replaced his original bat- 
teries with the better guns taken from the enemy, as far as they 
would go, and urged the Government to take advantage of the 
suspension of hostilities for the winter, to recast all the twelve- 
pounder howitzers .and smooth-bore six-pounders into twelve- 
pounder Napoleon, ten-pounder Parrott, and three-inch rifle- 
ixuns. He was so urgent in this matter that the Government 
granted his request, and by the spring his army was better 
supplied with artillery than it had ever been. 

In order to provide food for his army he strongly urged the 
Government to purchase all the grain in the counties bordering 
upon the James River and Kanawha canal. The farmers in that 
section,* he said, v/ere hoarding their provisions with the inten- 
tion of putting up the price of breadstufFs, and he desired that 
the army should be saved from the suffering which such unpa- 
triotic conduct would bring upon it. 

The only occurrence which broke the rest of the army after 
the battle of Fredericksburg was the futile attempt made by 
General Burnside to assail the Confederate army once more in 
its stronghold. Smarting under his defeat, and blind to the 
extent to which that defeat had demoralized his army and 
destroyed its confidence in him, he resolved to make an effort to 
turn Lee's risrht, and drive him from Fredericksburg. His 

*The farmers of this section were not alone in such practices. In too many 
portions of the South the fiirmers did all in their power to prevent their grain 
from going to feed the army. 

42 



330 LIFE OP GENERAL LEE. 

(lesio-n was to cross his army seven or eight miles below the 
city, and to insure the success of his movement he determined 
to send a strong column of cavalry towards Richmond to cut 
Lee's communications. His army was promptly prepared for 
the movement, and the cavalry expedition was ready to march 
when, on the 30th of December, he received an order from 
Washington not to attempt another advance without letting the 
President know of it. Surprised at such an injunction, he 
recalled tlie cavalry expedition, and hastened to Washington in 
person to learn the cause of the President's course. He was 
informed by Mr. Lincoln that the army had lost confidence in 
him, and that certain general officers had expressed the opinion 
that his proposed movement would result in disaster.* General 
Burnside's surprise and mortification were very great. The 
position in which he was placed was extremely humiliating, and 
his first impulse seems to have been to resign. Resolving, 
however, to make a last attempt to retrieve his reputation and 
regain the confidence of his army, he returned to the Rappa- 
hannock, and commenced his preparations for the execution of 
his design. 

It was his intention to cross the Rappahannock this time at 
Banks' Ford, about six miles above Fredericksburg. The river 
was not then fordable, but it was so narrow at that point that it 
could be easily bridged. He meant to throw five bridges across 
the Rappahannock, and, crossing his army into Spottsylvania, 
endeavor to turn Lee's left, and force him to fall back from 
his works in order to maintain his communications with Rich- 
mond. To mask his real movement, he resolved to make feints 
of crossing at several different points above and below the city. 
Strong working parties were set to work to cut new and more 
direct roads through the woods to the fords, and batteries were 
planted, and rifle pits dug to protect the passage of the stream. 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac — p. 257. 



WINTER QUARTERS. 331 

The weather up to this time had been excellent, and the roads 
were dry and hard. The enthusiasm of the army had been 
re-awakened to some degree, and it seemed certain that General 
Burnside was to have a fav^orable opportunity to essay the 
recovery of his lost laurels. 

On the 19th of January 1863, his army began its march to 
the phice of crossing. The Grand Divisions of Hooker and 
Franklin marched by parallel roads to convenient points for 
encamping, near the fords, where they passed the night. The 
movement was conducted with as much secrecy as possible, and 
Couch's corps was sent down the river to mask it by making a 
feint of crossing in that direction. The corps of General Sigel 
was left behind to guard the communications, and the late posi- 
tion of the army. The upper fords were reached on the 20th, 
and dispositions made for crossing. Powerful batteries of artil- 
lery were planted on the north bank to prevent any resistance 
from the south side to the construction of the bridges, and 
ponton trains were placed in readiness within a short distance 
of the river. 

Thus far everything had gone well ; but, during the night of 
the 2()th, a terrible rain storm set in, which completely anni- 
hilated all of the Federal commander's plans. Mr. Swinton, 
who was present with the Federal army, thus describes the 
manner in which the elements fought against Burnside. 

" It was a wild Walpurgis night, such as Goethe paints in 
the Faust. Yet there was brave work done during its hours, 
for guns were hauled painfully up the heights and placed in their 
positions, and the pontons were drawn down nearer to the river. 
But it was already seen to be a hopeless task ; for tiie clayey 
roads and fields, under the influeace of the rain, had become 
bad beyond all former experience, and l)y daylight, when the 
boats should all have been on the banks ready to t^lide down into 
the water, but fifteen had been gotten up — not enough lor one 



332 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

bridofe, and five were wanted. Moreover, the night operations 
had not escaped the notice of the wary enemy, and by morn- 
insT Lee had massed his army to meet the menaced crossing. 
****** "Yhe night's rain had made deplorable 
havoc with the roads ; but herculean efforts were made to bring 
pontons enough into position to build a bridge or two withal. 
Double and triple teams of horses and mules were harnessed 
to each boat ; but it was in vain. Long stout ropes were then 
attached to the teams, and a hundred and fifty men put to the 
task on each. The effort was but little more successful, 
riounderinijj through the mire for a few feet, the oano; of Lili- 
putians with their huge-ribbed Gulliver, were forced to give 
over, breathless. Night arrived, but the pontons could not be 
got up, and the enemy's j)ickets, discovering what was going on, 
jocularly shouted out their intention to ' come over to-morrow 
and help build the bridges.' 

" j\Jorning dawned upon another day of rain and storm. 
The ground had gone from bad to worse, and now showed such 
a spectacle as might be presented by the elemental wrecks of 
another Deluge. An indescribable chaos of pontons, vehicles, 
and artillery encumbered all the roads — supply Avagons upset 
by the road-side, guns stalled in the mud, ammunition trains 
mired by the way, and hundreds of horses and mules buried in 
the liquid muck. The army, in fact, was embargoed ; it was 
no longer a question of how to go forward — it was a question 
of how to get back. The three days' rations brought on the 
persons of the men were exhausted, and the supply trains could 
not be moved up. To aid the return all the available force was 
put to work to corduroy the rotten roads. Next morning the 
army floundered and staggei'ed back to the old camps, and so 
ended a movement, that will always live in the recollection of 
the army as the ' Mud March,' and which remains a striking 



WINTER QUARTERS. 333 

exemplification of the enormous difficulties incidents to winter 
campaigning in Virginia." * 

The failure of this movement brous^ht General Burnside's 
career to a close. He was hopeful of success when it began. 
Had he succeeded in crossing, he would have been undeceived 
very speedily. His design was quickly detected by General 
Lee, who at once made such dispositions to meet the Federal 
army as would have resulted in its certain defeat. So sure of 
this was the Southern commander, that he wrote to his Govern- 
ment that " it was fortunate for the Federals that they fliiled to 
get over the river." 

The failure, however, together with the terrible hardships 
endured by the troops in the " Mud March " brought the iNorth- 
ern army to a state of almost open insubordination. The men 
were outspoken in their denunciations of their commander, and 
desertions became common and numerous. 

General Burnslde seemed to be under the impression that his 
want of success was due, not so much to the weather as to the 
fact that his officers had no confidence in him. In the bitterness 
of his disappointment, he prepared an order, dismissing from 
the service of the United States, Generals Hooker, Brooks, 
Cochrane, and Newton, and relieving from their commands in 
the Army of the Potomac, Generals Franklin, W. F. Smith, 
Sturgis, Ferrero, and Colonel Taylor — the first named under 
each head being decidedly the ablest of his lieutenants. He 
carried this order to Washington, and asked the approval of the 
Government, demanding either a compliance with this request 
or the acceptance of his resignation. Mr. Lincoln chose the 
latter alternative. He accepted General Burnslde's resignation, 
and appointed as that officer's successor the man at whom Burn- 
side's principal blow had been directed — Major-General Joseph 
Hooker. 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, pp. 259-260. 



334 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Towards February the corps of General Longstreet was with- 
drawn from the army and sent south of the James River. The 
movement was for the purpose of checking the enemy, who 
commenced to make threatening demonstrations along the line 
of the Blackvvater River, and to collect supplies from the lower 
counties south of the James, and from Eastern North Carolina. 
There were other commands scattered at various unimportant 
points along the Southern coast, which might have been de- 
voted to this undertaking ; but the Government, with its usual 
blindness, preferred to risk the safety of General Lee's army 
by taking away one of its most powerful members to incurring 
the chance of losing some paltry village in the Cotton States. 

The sufferings of the army for food during the winter were 
severe. The Commissary General proved himself so incompe- 
tent to provide for tlie army that General Lee, about the mid- 
dle of February, advised the Government to make an appeal 
to the people to bring supplies to the army to feed their sons 
and brothers. The suggestion was referred to the Commissary 
General, — the Government being incapable of rising above 
the forms of the " red tape" system — and that individual op- 
posed it, — perhaps because it was at variance with his plan for 
starving the army, — and the matter was dropped. Had the 
Government been as true to the army as the army was to the 
Government, no effort, whether sanctioned by precedents or 
not, would have been spared to relieve the sufferings of the 
brave soldiers. 

Another suggestion of General Lee was suffered to pass 
without being acted upon. The conscription had been man- 
aged In such a way, that instead of filling up the armies, it had 
arrayed the people against the Government. It fell far short 
of supplying the force needed, and, about the latter part of Feb- 
ruary, General Lee proposed that the Government should re- 
quest the Governors of the States to aid more directly in re- 



WINTER QUARTERS. 335 

cruiting the armies. He said the people habitually expected 
too much from the troops then in the field ; and warned the 
Government that because the South had gained many victories, 
it did not follow that it would always gain them ; that the le- 
gitimate fruits of victory had hitlierto been lost for the want of 
a sufficient force to secure them, and urged the Government to 
at leapt try to secure the cooperation of the State Govern- 
ments. The advice was not heeded. When it is considered 
that the States were extremely averse to the conscription, and 
that some of them were open in their hostility to it, we may 
reasonably suppose that an appeal to them to raise troops ©f 
themselves and by their own authority, would have met with a 
favorable response, especially when endorsed by so influential a 
personage as General Lee. Yet the ap[)eal was not made, and 
there is strong ground for believing that the Government, 
which was professedly based upon the principle of State rights, 
was too jealous of the States to depart in the least from a con- 
scription which was totally destructive of that principle. 

During the winter General Lee exerted himself to prepare 
for an advance of the enemy in the spring, by guarding all the 
practicable crossings of the river, from Skenker's Neck, below 
Fredericksburg, to United States Ford, above it. His army 
was so disposed as to be readily concentrated at any point ahmg 
the river, and strong lines of earthworks were erected at va- 
rious points for the purpose of disputing the passage of the 
stream, and for holding the enemy in check until the army 
could be concentrated. 

Thus the long winter passed away, and on the 30th of March 
General Lee announced to the Government that the spring 
campaign had opened, and that his army might be in motion at 
any day. 



336 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 



VII. 

THE CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN. 

April— May, 1863. 



I. 
THE CAMPAIGN OPENS. 

The defeat of General Burnside and his failures to recrosa 
the Rappahannock greatly exasperated the Northern people, 
but only increased their determination to carry the war to a 
successful close, and instead of abandoning their attempts in 
despair, they infused new vigor into their operations. As a 
means of weakening the South, and stirring up internal dis- 
orders which, it was supposed, would require strong detach- 
ments from the army to suppress, President Lincoln, on tho 
1st of January 1863, issued a proclamation declaring the 
Southern slaves free on and after that day, and announcing 
that the Federal Government would " do no act or acts to re- 
press such persons or any of them, in any efforts they may 
make for their actual freedom." 

This proclamation was the most decided measure upon which 
tlie Federal Government had yet ventured, but so far as its 
effect upon the South is concerned, it failed to accoaaplish the 
end desired. 

The appointment of General Hooker gave new life to the 



THE CAMPAIGN OPENS. 337 

army over which he was placed. He assumed the command on 
the 26th of January 1863, and at once set to work to cJ\eck 
the evils from which his troops were suffering. His measures 
were vigorous and effective. He proved himself to be an 
officer of high administrative abilities, and as he had been so 
ruthless in his criticisms upon Generals McClellan and Burn- 
side, and had accompanied these criticisms by such strong in- 
sinuations that he could succeed where they had failed, his 
countrymen were justified in expecting that he would prove the 
long-expected genius, and that into his hands would fall the 
prize for which others had so long contended in vain. These 
expectations were not destined to be realized. As a corps 
commander General Hooker had few, if any, superiors in the 
Federal service, but he was incapable of conducting such a 
campaign as was before his army. Bold to adopt a resolu- 
tion, he proved himself weak and timid in its execution. In- 
deed the heavy responsibility of his position seemed to crush 
out of him every spark of genius. The opposition of his ad- 
versary seemed to bewilder him, and to render him incapable 
of acting with the daring and vigor which had always distin- 
guished him while in a subordinate position. 

His first care was to check the desertions which were rapidly 
thinning the ranks of the Army of the Potomac, and to restore 
to it the confidence which his predecessor had destroyed. His 
personal popularity secured the latter end, and the vigorous 
measures which he inaugurated put a stop to the desertions. 
The system of Grand Divisions had not been found to work 
well, and it was abolished and replaced by the corps organiza- 
tion. The staff and administrative departments of the army 
were rendered more effective ; the various army corps were pro- 
vided with distinctive badges, and the contentment and good 
will of the troops secured by a wise and liberal system of fur- 
43 



338 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

loughs.* His demands upon his Government were liberally- 
responded to, and he was furnished with everything necessary 
to bring his army to the highest state of efficiency. 

The wisest of all General Hooker's acts was the reorganiza- 
tion of his cavalry. Previous to his assumption of the com- 
mand of the Army of the Potomac, the Federal cavalry had 
been scattered, in brigades or divisions, among the Grand 
Divisions of the army, — a system which rendered it incapable 
of concerted action. General Hooker consoHdated it into a 
compact and powerful corps, under officers of tried ability, and 
provided it with horses and equipments of the most superior 
kind. From this time until the close of the war, the cavalry 
arm of the Army of the Potomac became of the highest useful- 
ness to it, and until the surrender at Appomattox Court House, 
was far more efficient from vai'ious causes than that of the Con- 
federates.! 

So successful were General Hooker's exertions that when the 
spring opened he had an army of one hundred and twenty 
thousand men (infantry and artillery) , twelve thousand finely 
equipped cavalry, and four hundred pieces of artillery. This 
force was in such good condition and so well provided with 
every necessity, and so many luxuries, that its commander 
proudly called it " the finest army on the planet." 

It was divided into seven corps ; the 1st under General Rey- 
nolds, the 2d under General Couch, the 3d under General 
Sickles, the 5th under General Meade, the 6th under General 
Sedgewick, the 11th under General Howard, the 12th under 
General Slocum. Thus prepared, General Hooker felt confi- 
dent that the destruction of Lee's army was certain. 

The campaign was opened by a reconnoissance of six regi- 
ments of Federal cavalry and a battery of artillery, under 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 268. 
t See Note B at the end of the volume. 



HOOKER ADVANCES. 339 

General \verill.* The object of this expedition was to cut 
Lee's communications at Gordons ville, and ascertain his strength 
and position. 

On the morning of the 16th of March a telegram from Gen- 
eral Lee's headquarters informed General Stuart that a column 
of Federal cavalry was in motion, and advised him to look out 
for it along the Upper Kappahannock. A small force was sta- 
tioned at Kelley's Ford to protect the crossing, and General 
Fitz Lee's brigade was ordered to hold itself in readiness to 
meet the enemy. In consequence of the negligence of the 
pickets, General Averill forced a passage of the river at Kelley's 
Ford on the morning of the 17th, capturing the picket-guard, 
and, pushing on, soon encountered Fitz Lee's brigade, which 
was drawn up to receive him. A severe engagement ensued, 
during which the Federal cavalry displayed more efficiency than 
they had shown during the war. The battle lasted until late 
in the aftei'noon, when the enemy retreated, after suffering a 
heavy loss. The Confederates also lost heavily, and among 
their killed A^as Major Pelham, Stuart's invaluable artillerist. 

After this action there was a season of quiet, until the middle 
of April, when the roads were pronounced dry and hard enough 
for the movements of armies. 



IL 

HOOKER ADVANCES. 

When General Lee announced to the War Department, on 
the 30th of March, that his army might be in motion at any 
day, he was not in a condition to undertake any offensive move- 
ment. General Longstreet, with about twenty-four thousand 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 268. 



340 LIFE OF GENEHAL LEU. 

men, had been taken from him, and sent south of the James 
River, leaving him a little less than fifty thousand men on the 
liappuliannock. The information which reached him from the 
Federal lines convinced him that General Hooker would attack 
him as soon as the roads and weather would permit. In view 
of this he urged the Government to send him reenforcements, 
and on the 29th of April, when he had heard of liooker'a 
advance, renewed his appeal for more men, and urged that 
Longstreet's corps should be withdrawn from the south side and 
sent to him at once.* His wishes were not heeded, and the 
danger burst upon him in his weak condition. 

During the month of April, General Hooker was busy pre- 
paring for his " on to Richmond," and watching General Lee. 
His cavalry made numerous attempts to penetrate Lee's line, 
unmask his position and gain information as to his strength. 
Almost every ford along the Rappahannock was attempted, but 
at each place Stuart's dispositions and vigilant troopers pre- 
vented the passage of the river. 

The absence of General Longstreet, with his corps, seems to 
have been communicated to General Hooker at an early day, 
and he determined to attack Lee before reenforcements could 
arrive from Richmond. His plan was to move the principal 
part of his army to Kelley's Ford, and crossing the Rappahan- 
nock at that point, march directly to Chancellorsville. As 
Kelley's Ford was twenty-seven miles above Fredericksburg, 
he hoped to be able to pass the river and occupy Chancellors- 
ville before General Lee could concentrate his forces to oppose 

* The Government did not see fit to order Longstreet to the Rappahannock 
until Hooker had made his designs too plain to be misunderstood. On the 
Gth of May, Mr. Davis desired General Longstreet to go to General Lee im- 
mediately. At that time, however, Eichmond was in great danger of capture 
by the Federal cavalry, and General Longstreet very properly declined to 
withdraw his command until communication with General Lee was restored 
and the city in a condition of defence. 



HOOKER ADVANCES. 341 

him. In order to mask his movement upon Chancelloisville, 
he resolved to throw a column consisting of the 1st, 3d, and 
6th corps, all under General Sedgevvick, across the Eappahan- 
nock at a point immediately below Fredericksburg. This col- 
umn was to make such demonstrations as would lead General 
Lee to suppose that the main attack was to be made against the 
Heights of Fredericksburg. At the same time a body of ten 
thousand cavalry was to be sent towards Richmond to cut Lee's 
railroad communications. 

On the morning of the 27th of April the Federal army began 
its march, and on the 28th reached Kelley's Ford. The river 
was crossed during that night and the next morning, with but 
slight opposition from a cavalry picket of the Confederates, and 
in the afternoon the army reached the Rapidan at Ely's and 
Germanna Fords. This stream was quite high at the time, but 
the men were ordered to strip, and fasten their clothes and 
cartridge-boxes to their bayonets. They were then marched 
into the river, the water coming up to the arm-pits, and in this 
way the passage was made during the afternoon and night, 
amidst the greatest merriment and enthusiasm. The artillery 
and trains were crossed on ponton bridges. This force con- 
sisted of Meade's (5th), Howard's (11th), and Slocum's (12th) 
corps, under the immediate direction of General Hooker. 
Couch's (2d) corps was left at United States Ford on the Rap- 
pahannock, to guard the river at that point, until Hooker, in 
moving down the stream, should uncover it, when General 
Couch was directed to cross the river, and rejoin Hooker at 
Chancellorsville. The turning movement was executed with 
success. 

At the same time General Sedgevvick commenced his move- 
ment. At dawn on the 29th he threw three bridges across the 
river, three miles below Fredericksburg. He at once crossed a 
strong column, and during the 29th and 30th made demonstra- 



342 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

tions as though he intended to assault the Southern ponltlon in 
rear of the town. 

General Hooker's dispositions were able, and well executed, 
but they did not deceive General Lee. He had expected from 
the first that the enemy would assail his left flank, his right being 
rendered safe by its position. He had stationed a part of An- 
derson's division, consisting of Mahone's and Posey's brigades 
and one battery in front of Ely's and Banks' Fords, in all about 
eight thousand men, and had picketted the river with Stuart's 
cavalry from United States Ford to Hinson's, in the neio;hbor- 
hood of Warrenton Springs, and had charged General Stuart 
to watch with great vigilance for a movement of the enemy 
from this direction.* Stuart performed his duty ably, and 
Hooker's column had scarcely reached the Upper Rappahan- 
nock before this movement was made known to General Lee. 
The news of the passage of the Rappahannock reached hfm at 
noon on the 29th. 

On the morning of the 30th Hooker's troops advanced from 
the Rapidan. In the afternoon Chancellorsville was reached. 
Posey and Mahone's commands had been withdrawn by Gen- 
eral Anderson from the river on the approach of the enemy, 
and concentrated i^t Chancellorsville, on the morning of the 
30th, where they were reeenfoi'ced by General Wright's brig- 
ade, which had been sent forward by General Lee on the pre- 
vious afternoon. In the afternoon General Anderson fell back 
from Chancellorsville to Tabernacle Church, where he could be 
reeenforced by General Lee, who was calmly awaiting the de- 
velopment of Hooker's intentions. He was well satisfied in his 
mind as to the nature of Sedgewick's movements, but, before 
sending further assistance to Anderson, it was necessary to be 
positive. By nightfall on the 30th he was convinced, from the 
fact that Sedgewick was sending troops to General Hook'»v, 

* Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 399. 



HOOKER ADVANCES. 343 

that the main effort of the enemy would be directed against his 
left, and he at once ordered General Jackson to march to An- 
derson's support with his whole command, with the exception 
of Early's division which was to remain and hold Sedgewick in 
check should he attempt to advance. Jackson was directed to 
" attack and repulse the enemy" as soon as he should reach 
Tabernacle Church. 

General Jackson received this order about eight o'clock on 
the night of the 30th, and set out, about midnight, taking 
with him A. P. Hill's, Rodes', (formerly D. H. Hill's) and 
Colston's (formerly Jackson's, but more recently Trimble's) 
divisions. He marched all night, and reached Tabernacle 
Church about nine o'clock the next morning, Friday, May 1st. 

When General Hooker occupied Chancellorsville on the night 
of the 30th, he was in high spirits. In an order issued to his 
troops he declared that " the enemy must either ingloriously fly, 
or come out from behind his defences and give us battle on our 
own ground, where certain destruction awaits him." So confi- 
dent was he that victory would crown his efforts that he said to 
one of his officers during the night, " the Rebel army is now 
the legitimate property of the Army of the Potomac. They 
may as well pack up their haversacks and make for Richmond. 
I shall be after them." * 

Chancellorsville, was not, as the name would indicate, a 
town, but merely a large brick residence, with a few out-houses 
lying near it. It was situated ten miles west and south of 
Fredericksburg, with which it was connected by a plank road 
and a macadamized turnpike. Looking towards Fredericks- 
burg, the country, commencing a short distance from Chancel- 
lorsville, was tolerably open, but in every other direction it was 
covered with an almost impenetrable thicket of dwarf pines and 
stunted oak, and in many places the ground was soft and 

♦ Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 275. 



344 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

marshy. The road from Ely's and United States Fords, only a 
few miles distant, approached Chancellorsville through this 
gloomy region, which was commonly known as the Wilderness. 
A little o\^r two miles to the right of Chancellorsville was a 
group of old buildings used for smelting iron, known as the 
Furnace. Just beyond Chancellorsville, in the direction of 
Fredericksburg, there was a ridge of a considerable elevation, 
which commanded the former place together with the Wilder- 
ness, and from which the Federal army could debouch into the 
open country immediately in the rear of Fredericksburg. This 
ridge was connected with Banks' Ford by a good road, and its 
possession was of the highest importance to the enemy. 

General Lee did not suppose that Hooker would halt at 
Chancellorsville, but expected that he would press on and 
endeavor to gain this ridge, as such a course would bring the 
Federal army out of the Wilderness where it was extremely 
difficult, if not impossible, to manoeuvre, and place it in a 
strong position commanding the open country, and affording it 
an opportunity to communicate with General Sedgewick by a 
shorter and more dii-ect road tli an that by which it had passed 
the Rappahannock. Believing that this would be Hooker's next 
movement after occupying Chancellorsville, Lee directed Gen- 
eral Jackson to ' ' attack and repulse the enemy " as soon as he 
reached Anderson's position. 

General Hooker seems to have been anxious to secure the 
ridge, for on the morning of the 1st of May, he resumed his 
march from Chancellorsville, pressing back Andei'son's weak 
command, in spite of its gallant resistance. Jackson arrived 
just as the enemy had occupied the ridge, and were pressing 
Anderson back. He immediately dispatched the brigades of 
Ramseur, McGowan, Heth, and Lane to Anderson's assistance, 
and held the rest of his force in reserve. His arrival was most 
opportune. Hooker had occupied the position Lee wished to 



HOOKER ADVANCES. 345 

keep liim from, and in doing so had gained an advantage which 
he should have i*etained at all hazards. No sooner, however, 
had the appearance of Jackson's command convinced him that 
General Lee, instead of " ingloriously flying," had determined 
to oppose his further advance, than he suddenly abandoned the 
offensive, and ordered the withdrawal of his army to Chancel- 
lorsville. His officers protested against the movement, calling 
his attention to the advantages affijrded by the possession of the 
heights, and begged him to recall his order. He was incapable 
of further aggressive movements. His plan now was to fall 
back to Chancellorsville, take up a strong defensive' position 
there, and await Lee's attack.* 

His army fell back, as ordered, and Jackson, perceiving the 
advantage thus offered him, rapidly advanced his line and press- 
ing the Federals heavily, threw a part of their force into some 
confusion. 

General Jackson at once occupied the heights, and advanced 
his troops until they came under fire from the enemy's works at 
Chancellorsville. Not being willing to risk an attack upon 
Hooker's superior force in such a strong position, General Jack- 
son withdrew for a short distance, and awaited the arrival of 
General Lee, who came up at nightfall, with the remainder 
of Anderson's division and McLaws' division. 

During the afternoon. General Wright was ordered to re- 
connoitre the enemy's right. Moving to the south of Chan- 
cellorsville, he was joined at the Furnace by General Stuart, 
with the cavalry, who had been skirmishing hotly with the Fed- 
eral army since its passage of the Rapidan. Wright, acting 
upon the information of General Stuart, promptly threw for- 
ward his brigade, and drove the enemy from a conunanding 
})osition, back upon their main line. Night put an end to the 
contest. 

♦Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, pp. 279, 280. 
U 



346 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 



III. 

CHANCELLORSVILLE. 

Immediately upon falling back to Chancellorsville, General 
Hooker commenced to fortify his position. He disposed his line 
of battle along the Orange Court House plank road, running 
east and west. His centre was at Chancel'^i-sville, just where 
the road from Fredericksburg to United States Ford crosses the 
plank road. Immediately around Chancellorsville is a clearing, 
some three hundred yards in extent, and to the right and left is 
the heavy undergrowth of the Wilderness. The left of the 
Federal line was drawn back somewhat towards the river, and 
was posted in the Wilderness, while the right, also in the Wil- 
derness, stretched away towards Orange County, about two 
miles and a half above Chancellorsville. The left flank was 
protected by the river, but the right was thrown out into the air. 
To protect his position General Hooker caused the construction of 
strong earthworks, which were made still stronger by felling 
trees along the entire front. The only weak point of his line 
was his left, his front being impregnable to any assault upon it. 
His army was disposed as follows : — Meade's and a part of 
Couch's corps held the left, Slocum's and part of Sickles' corps, 
the centre, and Howard's corps the right. The remainder of 
Couch's and Sickles' troops were held in reserve. This force 
was over eighty thousand strong with more than two hundred 
pieces of artillery. 

By the time of General Lee's arrival, the position of the Fed- 
eral army had been well ascertained by General Jackson. The 
situation of the Southern army was one which admitted of no 



CH ANCELLORSVILLE . 347 

hesitation. The force which General Lee had with liim at 
Chancellorsville was barely forty thousand strong, and the 
heights at Fredericksburg were held by about eight thousand 
under General Early. The army was thus placed between the 
column of General Hooker at Chancellorsville, and that of Gen- 
eral Sedgewick at Fredericksburg ; the former was over eighty 
thousand strong, and the latter numbered about twenty-eight or 
thirty thousand. If these two columns should seek to unite, 
they would be too strong to be resisted. If Sedgewick should 
advance upon Fredericksburg and drive Early from his position, 
he would have it in his power to fall upon General Lee's rear, 
while Hooker could advance upon the latter from Chancellors- 
ville, and between such forces the Southern army would be 
crushed. Therefore, General Lee determined to prevent this by 
acting immediately. The withdrawal of Hooker to Chancellors- 
ville, convinced him that the Federal commander expected to be 
attacked there, and he resolved that he should not be disappointed. 
The plan adopted by General Lee was proposed by General 
Jackson. It was as follows : — General Lee, with the divisions of 
McLaws and Anderson was to keep Hooker employed during the 
next day, by threatening demonstrations against his front, while 
Jackson was to move with his corps around the Federal right 
wing, and by a sudden attack in that quarter double it up upon 
Hooker's centre, take his line in reverse, and cut him off from 
United States Ford, his line of retreat. The plan was bold and 
brilliant, worthy alike of the great soldier whose last conception 
it was, and of the greater general who accepted it. 

On the morning of Saturday, May 2d, General Lee com- 
menced his demonstrations on the Federal left, first assailing 
Couch's corps, then Slocum's in the centre, and gradually ex- 
tending his attack from left to right, and so completely conceal- 
ing his design that General Hooker was fully satisfied that the 
Confederate commander really intended to make the move h« 



348 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE 

wished — namely, a direct attack upon the intrenched position 
of his powerful army. 

Meanwhile General Jackson, with his tried veterans, twenty- 
two thousand in all, commenced his march at an early 
hour. About a mile and a half from Chancellorsville, the col- 
umn left the plank road, and marched by the Old Mine road in 
the direction of the Furnace. The front and flanks of the col- 
umn were guarded by the cavalry under General Stuart. Upon 
reaching the Furnace, the 23d Georgia, Colonel Best, was 
thrown out to guard the road leading toward Chancellorsville, 
and the column pushed on. 

It had been designed to keep the march secret from the en- 
emy, but at this point it was discovered by General Sickles, 
whose position commanded a view of the road over a hill near 
the Furnace. This road, however, makes a sudden bend to 
the southward near this hill, so that when Sickles saw Jackson's 
column filing off in that direction, he supposed the Confederates 
were retreating towards Richmond. He immediately threw 
forward two divisions to reconnoitre, and these, suddenly sur- 
rounding the 24th Georgia, after the column had gone by, cap- 
tured nearly the entire regiment. General Sickles telegraphed 
the result of his movement to General Hooker, and the latter 
was so firmly convinced that Lee was withdrawing, that he wrote 
to General Sedgwick, " We know the enemy is flying, trying 
to save his trains ; two of Sickles' divisions are among them."* 
These same divisions, strengthened by Pleasanton's cavalry, 
and two brigades of infantry, one of which was taken from the 
Fedferal right, about the same time made an attack on the 
trains of Jackson's corps, but were driven back to their main 
line at Chancellorsville by the fire of Brown's artillery. 

After this the column continued its march unmolested. The 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 284. 



CHANCELLORSVILLE. 349 

progress was slow, for the troops had great difficulty in moving 
through the wild country, and the narrow road was unsuited to 
the passage of artillery. Reaching the Brock road, General 
Jackson turned into it, and followed it until he arrived at the 
point where it intersects the Orange plank road, not far from 
the Federal right flank. Here General Fitz Lee pointed out a 
hill to him and told him that from it he could see the whole 
Federal position. Ascending the hill, he quickly reconnoitcred 
the enemy's line, and then, turning to one of his aids, di- 
rected him to order the column to cross the plank road, by 
which movement they would gain the turnpike, and come di- 
i*ectly in the rear of the Federal works.* The turnpike was 
reached about five o'clock in the afternoon, and the enemy's 
line was completely turned. General Jackson at once issued 
orders to prepare the troops for action. 

The line was quickly formed. Rodes' division was deployed 
in line of battle, on the left of the turnpike, followed by A. P. 
Hill's and Colston's, the last two, with the artillery, moving 
along the road in column. The skirmish line was thrown for- 
ward about four hundred yards in advance, and between this 
line and Rodes' infantry were two guns of the Stuart horse ai'- 
tillery, under Captain Breathed. 

Jackson's intention was to advance by the turnpike, which 
led directly to the rear of the Federal works, extending his line 
rapidly to the left, in the direction of the Rappahannock, by 
which he would drive the right wing of the enemy back upon 
Chancelloi'sville, and get possession of the road to United 
States Ford. In order to accomplish this his command would 
have to penetrate the depths of the Wilderness, yet this was 
but a slight matter in his and their estimation. 

The reader will remember that the Federal right wins: con- 

♦ Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 413. 



o50 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

sisted of Howard's (formerly Sigel's) corps. It was strongly 
posted across the turnpike, and defended by a series of well 
constructed earthworks. 

At a quarter past five o'clock, General Jackson ordered Gen- 
eral Rodes to advance and attack the enemy. The men 
rushed forward with cheers, aiming straight at the flank of the 
right wing. Breathed's two guns opened a rapid fire, gallop- 
ing in advance of the infantry, until the works were reached. 
Emerging from the woods, Jackson's men dashed upon the 
breastworks, driving before them the advanced forces of How- 
ard-, who were quietly cooking their suppers when the attack 
was made. Reaching the intrenchments they stormed them, in 
spite of the feeble resistance of the astonished Federals. Cols- 
ton's division, following rapidly, caught up with Rodes' line, 
and entered the Federal works with it. 

Colonel Crutchfield, Jackson's Chief of Artillery, now hur- 
ried his batteries to the front, and opened a hot fire upon the 
enemy's works at Chancellorsville. The infantry moved for- 
ward steadily, driving back division after division, until the 
whole 11th corps was flying in utter rout. 

General Jackson led his troops in person. " Those who 
saw him declare that he seemed carried away by the excitement 
of the moment. He leaned forward on his horse, extending his 
arm far in front, as though he wished ' to push the men for- 
ward,' and his voice was heard exclaiming, ' Press forward ! 
press forward ! ' every few minutes during the entire attack. 
When not thus mastered by the ardor of battle, his right hand 
was raised aloft with that gesture now familiar to his men, as 
though he were praying to the God of battles for victory."* 

It was six o'clock when the first shot was fired, and for two 
hours Jackson's infantry drove the 11th corps steadily back 
upon the 12th, which held centre. By eight o'clock the advance 

♦ Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p, 417. 



CHANCELLORSVILLE. 351 

had been pressed to within half a mile of Hooker's headquar- 
ters, when, in the darkness, the Southern line became entangled 
in the heavy abatis of felled trees with which Hooker had 
fringed the works around Chancellorsville. Rodes' and Col- 
ston's men became mingled in the greatest confusion so that it 
was impossible for either officer to distinguish his command. 
To remedy this the troops were halted, Rodes was directed to 
fall back and reform his men, and A. P. Hill's division was 
placed in front in the room of the troops thus withdrawn. As 
the line halted the Federal batteries opened from the cleared 
ground around Chancellorsville, which about this time presented 
a scene of the wildest confusion. 

The panic stricken soldiers of the 11th corps rushed back 
upon their centre as Jackson's infantry swept down upon them. 
As the terror spread, men, horses, cannon, wagons, and ambu- 
lances became mingled in one frightful mass, which sped across 
the clearing around Chancellorsville with the force of a Avhirl- 
wind — all aiming straight for the Rappahannock. Officers 
tried in vain, by threats, entreaties and blows, to stay the fugi- 
ives. They were deaf to everything. For a moment it seemed 
that the career of Hooker's army was ended, but just at this 
time the Southern advance was checked by the accident I have 
mentioned. But for this, Jackson would have slept that night at 
Chancellorsville, and his valuable life would have been spared 
to the country. 

Hooker was quick to take advantage of the pause. Opening 
with every gun he could collect at the moment, twenty-two in 
all, upon the woods held by the Confederates, he endeavored to 
form his troops to resist the attack. Leading his old division 
forward in person, he became for the moment once more the 
impetuous soldier that had won such admiration even from his 
enemies. He posted this division at the edge of the clearing 
directly in Jackson's front, and awaited a renewal of the attack. 



352 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Fresh artillery was brought up and fifty pieces were soon sweep- 
insr the woods with an iron hail. 

It was ten o'clock, and the moon had risen, lighting up the 
woods with a ghostly glimmer which paled before the fierce 
fflare of the cannonade. Late as it was, General Jackson 
determined to renew the attack and get possession of the road 
to United States Ford. As his ti'oops were forming for the 
assault, he became so anxious to ascertain the exact state of 
affairs in his front, that he rode forward to reconnoitre, giving 
orders to his men not to fire, unless cavalry approached from 
the direction of the enemy. He was accompanied by two of 
his staff, about half a dozen couriers, and two men of the signal 
corps. 

Unfortunately, although the enemy were scarcely more than 
two hundred yards distant, no pickets had been established, 
and General Jackson found himself considerably beyond his 
lines, with nothing between him and the enemy. Had this 
important duty been performed, the sad results of this reconnois- 
sance would been avoided.* 

As he finished his inspection General Jackson directed one 
of his staff to go back and order General A. P. Hill to advance. 
As he rode back to his lines, without giving any warning to his 
men, who had been ordered to look out for Federal cavalry, he 
was fired upon by a brigade of his own troops, and severely 
wounded, twice in the left arm, and once in the right hand. 
His whole escort, with the exception of two persons, were 
killed, wounded, or dismoitnted.f 

The scene which ensued was agonizing beyond description. 
General Jackson was assisted from his horse by the survivors 
of the fatal volley, almost too weak, from loss of blood, to 
stand, and tenderly laid in the shelter of the trees by the road- 

* Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 419. 
t Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 420. 



CHANCELLORSVILLE. 353 

side. A messenger was despatched for a surgeon and an am- 
bulance, but before these arrived, General Hill, who had also 
been exposed to the fire, came up, having succeeded in checking 
it. He was made acquainted witli the calamity that had be- 
fallen the army, and instructed to assume the command of the 
corps. In a few minutes General Hill repaired to his post, 
and shortly afterwards it was reported that the enemy were 
advancing, and were within only one hundred yards of the spot 
where the wounded General lay. An effort was now made to 
assist him back to his lines, and, supported by two of his offi- 
cers, one of whom had just come up, he walked slowly back, 
under a fearful fire of artillery which was suddenly opened from 
the enemy's batteries. On the way he passed his troops who 
were in motion to check the advance of the enemy, and every 
effort was made to prevent the men from learning who he was. 
His escort of officers, however, excited the curiosity of the 
troops who repeatedly asked who was wounded. The answer 
was invariably, " a Confederate officer," but one of his old vet- 
erans recognized him as he walked bareheaded in the moon- 
light, and, with a cry of anguish, exclaimed, " Great God ; that 
is General Jackson !"* 

During this time Jackson had not been able to drag himself 
twenty steps. He was so exhausted that his officers procured 
a litter for him, but had not gone far before their path was 
swept by a shower of grape and canister from the Federal bat- 
teries. One of the litter-bearers was shot through both arms, 
and the litter was placed on the ground. For several min- 
utes the firing was teriffic, forcing the entire party to throw 
themselves down on the ground for safety. As soon as the fire 
of canister veered around, another effort was made to convey 
the General to a place of safety, and at last he was placed in 

♦ Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, p. 425. 
45 



354 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

an ambulance, and conveyed to Melzl Chancellor's house, 
where he received surgical attention.* 

The firing to which General Jackson had been exposed did 
o-reat execution in the Southern ranks, wounding, among others, 
General A. P. Hill, who was compelled to relinquish the com- 
mand of the corps to General Stuart, who was called away 
from his cavalry for this purpose. Nothing further occurred 
during the night, which was passed by both armies in preparing 
for a renewal of the battle the next day. 

During the night, the 1st corps, under General Reynolds, 
which had been withdrawn from before Fredericksburg, reached 
Chancellorsville, thus supplying the place of the 11th, which 
had been driven practically from the field. This left Sedgwick 
his own corps, twenty-two thousand strong, and, seeing the 
danger which threatened his army. General Hooker ordered 
Sedgwick to attack and carry the heights back of Fredericks- 
burg at once, and move by the plank road to Chancellorsville, 
destroying any force in his way. He was directed to be at 
Chancellorsville at daylight the next morning, — Sunday, May 
ad.f 

As soon as General Jackson was conveyed to the rear, after 
being wounded, he despatched a note to General Lee, inform- 
ino- him of his misfortune. The messeno-er who bore the sad 
tidings reached General Lee's headquarters about four o'clock 
on Sunday morning, and found the Commander-in-Chief rest- 
ing upon a bed of straw. When he heard of General Jack- 
son's misfortune. General Lee exclaimed with emotion, "Thank 
God it is no worse ! God be praised he is still alive ! " Then 
he added, " Any victory is a dear one that deprives us of the 
services of Jackson, even for a short time." 

The officer remarked that he believed it was General Jack- 

* Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, pp. 426, 427, 428, 
t Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 291. 



CHANCELLORSVILLE. 355 

son's intention to have pressed the enemy on Sunday, had he 
been spared. General Lee said quietly, " These people shall 
be pressed to-day," Rising and dressing, he partook of his 
simple meal of ham and crackers, and prepared to set out for 
the field. Later in the day he sent to General Jackson the 
noble letter of sympathy which proved so comforting to the 
wounded hero : — 

"General: 

*' I have just received your note informing me that you were 
wounded. I cannot express my regret at the occurrence. 
Could I have directed events, I should have chosen, for the 
good of the country, to have been disabled in your stead. I 
congratulate you upon the victory which is due to your skill 
and energy."* 

General Stuart, after taking command of Jackson's corps, 
decided not to risk a night attack, as the ground was new to 
him, and the troops were in some confusion, but made his dis- 
positions to renew the battle at daylight. The corps was 
formed in three lines. Hill's division constituting the first, Cols- 
ton's the second, and Rodes' the third. The loss of their old 
commander had become known to the men, but instead of dis- 
heartening them, as had been feared, it seemed to fill them with 
fury. 

* The affectionate admiration with which the great commanl^- of the South 

regarded Jackson, was fully reciprocated by the Intt •. \ i e said to a 

friend, in speaking of his Commander-in-Chief: •• Ueueial Lue is not slow. 
No one knows the weight upon his heart, — his great responsibilities. He is 
Commander-in-Chief, and he knows that if an army is lost it cannot bo re- 
placed. No ! there may be some persons whose good opinion of me will make 
them attach some weight to my views ; and if you ever hear that said of Gen- 
eral Lee, I beg you will contradict it in my name. I have known General Lee 
for five and twenty years ; he is cautious ; he ought to be. But he is not 
* dow.' Lee is a 'phenomenon. He is the only man whom I would follow 
blindfold ! " — Cooke's Life of Stonewall Jackson, pp. 211, 212. 



LIFE OP GENERAL LEE. 

At sunrise Stuart opened his attack, his infantry advanc- 
ing steadily upon the enemy's works, less than half a mile 
distant. With the shout, "Charge, and remember Jack- 
son ! " the men moved forvs^ard, and were soon hotly engaged 
with the enemy. As he brought his troops into action, Stuart 
saw that the ridge which had been occupied the day before by 
the 11th corps, afforded a fine position for artillery. Seizing it 
at once, he brought up thirty pieces, and opened them on the 
enemy's centre, inflicting heavy damage upon the troops massed 
there.* 

The enemy resisted stubbornly, and with the hope of check- 
'm<i: Stuart's advance, assailed his left with great vifjor. Cols- 
ton's division was hurried to the left, and was soon followed by 
every available regiment. The ammunition of a large part of 
the command now gave out, owing to its having been used in 
the action of the previous night, and, as the enemy pressed 
heavily upon the Southern left, it seemed that Hooker would 
yet recover his lost honor. The troops were ordered to hold 
their ground with the bayonet, if necessary. A gallant stand 
was made, and the enemy were checked and beaten back. 

General Lee had not been idle. While Stuart was bearing 
down upon the Federal right, he was pressing the left and cen- 
tre heavily with the divisions of Anderson and McLaws, moving 
gradually towards the right to unite with the second corps. 
Anderson's division was on his left, and this forcing back the 
Federal centre slowly formed a connection with Stuart by a 
thin line, just as the latter had repulsed the attack on his left. 
The army was now united, and General Lee gave the order to 
storm the Federal works around Chancellorsville. 

The whole line advanced with vigor, and after a stubborn 
fight captured the works. The enemy rallied, and the Confed- 
erates were driven back. A second time the works were won 

* Greneral Stuarfs Beport. 



CHANCELLORSVILLE. 357 

and lost, and a third attempt met the same fate. The fire of 
the Southern artillery was redoubled, and the infantry swept 
forward in their fourth charge, over the dead and the dying, 
into the captured works, driving the enemy furiously towards 
the river, and at ten o'clock the Confederate flag floated in 
triumph over Chancellorsville. * 

The scene was horrible at this moment. The woods, whi(;h 
were full of wounded, had been set on fire by the shells, and 
the fierce flames were roaring around the helpless sufferers, 
many of whom perished in this terrible manner. The Chan- 
cellor.'^ville house was in a bright blaze, and the clearing was 
full of smoke and fire. The shouts of the combatants, the 
crash of musketry, the heavy discharges of artillery, and the 
fierce crackling of the flames, all gave a wild and terrible gran- 
deur to ti.e scene, such as is seldom witnessed, even on a bat- 
tle-field. 

As if in anticipation of his defeat, General Hooker had caused 
to be constructed on the night of the 2d, a strongly intrenched 
line in the rear of his first position. This new line covered the 
United States Ford. It was located in an angle formed by the 
Rappahannock and Rapidan, the right resting on the latter, and 
the left on the former river. It was heavily fortified, and the 
corps of Meade and Reynolds, which had been held in reserve 
during the battle, were formed in it to cover the withdrawal of 
the army into this place of refuge. 

In spite of the strength of this line, General Lee resolved to 
attack it, and drive Hooker across the river. Accordingly he 
formed his army along the plank road, with his centre at Chan- 
cellorsville, and late in the afternoon was on the point of order- 
ing an advance, when he was brought to a sudden pause by 
the news that Sedsjwick was marchino^ against him from Fred- 
ericksburg, having defeated General Early. f 

• General Lee's Report. 

+ General Lee sent the following dispatch to Richmond on Sunday night : 



358 UFE OF GENERAL LEE. 



IV. 

MARYE'S AND SALEM HEIGHTS. 

General Sedgwick received General Hooker's order to ad- 
vance to his assistance, about midnight on Saturday. He at 
once left his position, three miles below Fredericksburg, and 
marching his corps by the flank, occupied the town about three 
o'clock on Sunday morning, skirmishing nearly all the way 
with a small Confederate force which retired before him. 
Shortly before daylight he threw forward a detachment to seize 
the works held by Early's command. This attack was promptly 
repulsed, and General Sedgwick ordered Gibbon's division of 
Couch's corps, which had been left to hold Falmouth, to cross 
the river, and join him. This gave him a force of not less than 
twenty-two thousand men. 

The reader will remember that when General Lee moved 
from his position on the Heights of Fredericksburg, he left 
them in ciiarge of General Early, who had under him his own 
division, and Barksdale brigade of Mississippians, of McLaws' 

"MiLFORD, May 3 1868. 
'TO Pbesident Davis: 

" Yesterday General Jackson penetrated to the rear of tlie enemy and drove 
hira from all his positions from tlie Wilderness to within one mile of Chan- 
cellorsville. He was engaged at the same time in front by two of Longst reefs 
divisions. Many prisoners were taken, and the enemy's loss in killed and 
wounded is large. This morning the battle was renewed. He was dish)dged 
from all his positions around Chancellorsville, and driven back towards the 
Rappahannock, over which he is now retreating. We have again to tliank 
Almighty God for a great victory. I regret to state that Gen. Paxton was 
killed, General Jackson severely and Generals Ileth and A. P. Hill slightly 
wounded. 

(Signed,) E. E. Lee, General Commanding." 



MARYE'S and SALEM HEIGHTS. 359 

division. This command was assigned the duty of holding the 
position of the entire army, and it was now menaced by a force 
almost four times its own strength. 

The point at which the principal attack of the enemy was 
to be directed was Marye's Hill, just in rear of the town. 
This was naturally the strongest part of the Confederate line, 
and was made much stronger by powerful earthworks. The 
force charged with the defence of this position consisted of one 
regiment and three companies of infantry, and one battery of 
the Washington Artillery, the remainder of Barksdale's brigade 
being disposed along the heights between Marye's Hill, and 
Taylor's on the left, and Howison's on the right, where the left 
of General Early's own division rested. The line which Barks- 
dale thus had to defend was about three miles in length.* Sev- 
eral batteries under General Pendleton, were posted on Tay- 
lor's and Howison's Hills. As soon as Early was informed of 
Sedgwick's movements, he sent Hays' brigade to reenforce 
Barksdale, who posted it on the right of the 13th Mississippi, 
near Lee's Hill. 

About eight o'clock on the morning of Sunday, May 3d, 
General Sedgwick moved a strong column towards Hamilton's 
Crossing for the purpose of turning Early's right, and forcing 
him to withdraw from the heights- This attack was speedily 
repulsed. f About the same tunc an effort was made to get 
possession of Taylor's Hill, the extreme left of the Southern 
line. Just as the attack began, General Hays with four of 
his regiments arrived to reenforce that flank, and the enemy were 
repulsed. As they were retiring, General Wilcox, who had 
been guarding Banks' Ford, arrived on the left with three regi- 
ments of his brigade. 

About eleven o'clock, Sedgwick threw forward a strong 



& 



* Letter from General Barksdale. — Richmond Dispatch, May 31, 1863. 
t General Lee's Report. 



360 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

column against Marye's Hill, which, the reader will remember, 
was defended by less than a thousand men. Moving on quickly 
in the face of a heavy fire from the Mississippians and tlie four 
fj-uns of tlie Washington Light Artillery, the Federals reached 
the work, and leaped in among the defenders. Here a sav- 
age hand-to-hand fight was made for the hill, the Mississippians 
clubbing their rifles, and endeavoring with desperate resolution 
to hold the works. The enemy were too strong, the Mississip- 
pians, after a heroic struggle, were driven back, and the Fed- 
erals gained complete possession of the hill. The Mississippi- 
ans lost several hundred men, taken prisoners, and a number 
killed and wounded, and the company of artillery, with its guns, 
was captured by the enemy. 

Simultaneously the ridge below the town was stormed and 
carried by Howe's division, and by noon the entire range which 
General Lee had held during the battle of the 13th of Decem- 
ber, was in Sedgwick's hands. Early fell back to the south- 
ward, across the telegraph road, leaving the way to Chancellors- 
ville open to the enemy, who, in obedience to Hooker's orders, 
set off at once in that direction. 

Barksdale and Wilcox, having been cut off from the main 
body under Early by the loss of Marye's Hill, fell back in the 
direction of Salem Heights, the ridge which Hooker had abandoned 
on Friday afternoon. Sedgwick's advance was bv the same 
road along which they were retreating, and as he pressed on, 
these gallant officers, appreciating the importance of retarding 
his march as long as possible, moved back slowly, contesting 
the road obstinately. 

This was the news which reached General Lee just as he was 
about to order an advance upon Hooker's new line, on Sunday 
afternoon. In the moment of victory, his danger was greater 
than it had been at any previous time. Yet Lee was equal to 
any emergency, and the course upon which he immediately re- 



MAEYE'S and SALEM HEIGHTS. 361 

solved, was one which in itself is suflScicnt to establish his ffusie 
as a great commander. He determined to leave a part of his 
little army to hold Hooker in check, and turn with the rest upon 
Sedgwick and drive him back over the Kappahannock. Having 
done this, he would renew the attack upon Hooker and force 
him back over the Rappahannock or destroy him. Sedgwick 
was rapidly nearing Salem Heights, which, if reached, would 
enable him to command the position of General Lee, and it was 
necessary to act at once. 

Leaving Jackson's corps, under Stuart, to take care' of 
Hooker, General Lee marched on Sunday afternoon with the 
division of McLaws and Mahone's brigade of Anderson's divi- 
sion to the assistance of Wilcox and Barksdale. Movins: with 
great rapidity, he reached Salem Heights about four o'clock in 
the afternoon. His arrival was timely. Wilcox was gallantly 
holding the crest at Salem Chapel with his own and Barksdale's 
brigade, but this force was too small to accomplish much — 
being in all about two thousand men against near twenty-six 
thousand. McLaws' division was in the advance, and was at 
once ordered to form on the right and left of Wilcox ; but; 
before this could be done, Sedgwick made a vigorous attack 
with two of his divisions, gained the crest, and swept the South- 
ern line with the fire of his magnificent batteries. His success 
was brief, however, for Lee formed his line quickly, and drove 
the enemy back from the heights into the woods. Night put an 
end to the battle. General Sedgwick's progress was checked, 
and what he had accomplished during the day had been gained 
at a loss of four thousand nine hundred and twenty-five men. 

Monday morning, May 4th, found the forces still confronting 
each other. In order to finish Sedgwick, General Lee ordered 
the remainder of Anderson's division (three brigades) from 
Chancellorsville. This force reached him about noon, and he 
at once directed General Anderson to turn Sedgwick's left, and 
46 



362 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

cut him off from the river. Sedgwick's force was about twenty- 
two thousand, while Lee had about fourteen thousand in all with 
him, Jackson's whole corps being in front of Hooker. 

Anderson commenced his movement promptly, but meeting 
considerable delay in getting into position, was not ready for 
action until late in the afternoon. At six o'clock General Lee 
opened his attack, pressing Sedgwick with great vigor, and gra- 
dually forcing back his left. The Federals resisted stubbornly, 
but the Confederates moved steadily onward. Unfortunately 
for the latter army darkness closed over the conflict just as the 
Federal left was giving way and the retreat of the enemy was 
about to be cut off. Taking advantage of the darkness. Gen- 
eral Sedgwick withdrew his corps during the night, and retired 
across the Rappahannock at Banks' Ford, where he had laid a 
ponton bridge the day before. The Confederates followed closely, 
and Sedgwick had barely time to cross his troops and trains 
when Lee opened on him with his artillery. Fredericksburg 
was immediately reoccupied by Early's division, the small Fed- 
eral force left on the heights being quickly driven over the 
river.* 

Tuesday morning, May 5th, found General Lee on his way 

* The victory over Sedgwick was announced to the Government in the 
following dispatch : 

" HEADQUAETEKS, 10 o'clock a. M., May 5, 1863. 
"To His Excellenct Presideki Davis: 

" At the close of the battle of Chancellorsville, on Sundny, the enemy was 
reported advancing from Fredericksburg in our rear, — General McLaws was 
sent back to arrest his progress, and repulsed him handsomely that afternoon. 

" Learning that this force consisted of the corps under General Sedgwick, 
I determined to attack it, and marched back yesterday with General Anderson, 
and uniting with McLaws and Early in the afternoon succeeded, by tlie bless- 
ing of Heaven, in driving General Sedgwick over the river. 

" We have reoccupied Fredericksburg, and no enemy remains south of the 
Eappahannock in its vicinity. 

(Signed,) E. E. Lee, General." 



MARYE'S and SALEM HEIGHTS. 368 

to dispose of Hooker. He had relieved his rear from the 
danger with which Sedgwick had threatened it, and now he 
was about to strike the remaining portion of " the finest army 
on the planet" a blow which should end the campaign. During 
the afternoon he returned to Chancellorsville with Anderson's 
and McLaws' divisions, and commenced to make arrangements 
for an advance of his forces at daylight on Wednesday morn- 
ing. 

This attack was not to be made. The defeat of his army 
had completely vanquished General Hooker, and on IMonday 
night, when it was certain that Sedgwick had been driven back, 
he determined to recross the river, and his engineers were in- 
structed to prepare a new line to cover the crossing. This they 
constructed from the Rappahannock at Scott's Dam to near the 
mouth of Hunting Creek on the Rapidan.* On Tuesday after- 
noon a severe stoi-m set in, swelling the Rappahannock to such 
a stage that it seemed that the bridges of the Federal army 
would be swept away. Towards dark Hooker commenced to 
send his artillery across the river, and during the night passed 
over with his entire army and trains. 

At daylight on the morning of the 6th, the Confederates 
advanced upon the enemy's works, and as the skirmish line 
reached them the flight of the Federal army was discovered. 
The campaign was ended, and the Confederates were victorious 
at all points, f 

♦Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 301. 

t The next day General Lee telegraphed the result to President Davis : 

" Chancellorsville, May 7, 1863. 
"To His EXCELLEKCV. PBESIDENT DAVI3 : — 

"After driving General Sedgwick across the Rappaluinnock, on the night 
of the 4th inst., I returned on the 5th, to Chancellorsville. The march vras 
delayed by a storm, which continued all night and the following da). In 
placing tiie troops in position on the morning of the Gth, to attack General 
Hooker, it was ascertained he had abandoned his fortified position. Tlie lin» 



364 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

The Confederate loss in the battles was severe. Out of an 
army of less than fifty thousand, ten thousand two hundred and 
eighty-one were killed, wounded, and captured. The enemy 
were still more unfortunate. Their loss in killed, wounded, 
and ca^jtured was seventeen thousand one hundred and ninety- 
seven — of which five thousand, exclusive of the wounded, 
who I'ell into the hands of the victors, were prisoners. Four- 
teen pieces of cannon, nineteen thousand five hundred stand 
of arms, seventeen standards and a quantity of ammunition 
were cnptured by the Confederates. 

The campaign had been well fought, and brilliantly con- 
ducted, but it was dearly won at the cost of the valuable life 
of General Jackson, who died on Sunday May 10th. f His 
remains were carried to Richmond where they received all the 

of skirmishers was pressed forward until they came within range of the 
enemy's batteries, planted north of the Eappahannook, which, from tlie con- 
figuration of the ground, completely commanded this side. His arm}, there- 
fore, escaped with the loss of a few additional prisoners. 

(Signed,) E. E. Lee, General.'^ 

fTlie wounding and deatli of tliis great soldier belong properly to another 
narration, and liave been of necessity passed by hurriedly in these pages. 
General Lee informed the army of its loss in the following order : 

" HEADQUAKTEES AKMY OF NOKTUEKN VlHGINIA, 

Way 11, 1863. 

"GENERAL OUDER, 
No. 61. 

"With deep grief the Commanding General announces to the army the 
death of Lieutenant General T. J. Jackson, who expired on the 10th inst., at 
quarter past 3 p. m. Tlie daring, skill, and energy of this great and good 
soldier, by the decree of an All Wise Providence, are now lost to us. But 
while we mourn his death we feel that his spirit still lives, and will inspire the 
ivliole army with his indomitable courage, and unshaken confidence in God as 
.)ur liope and strength. Let his name be a watcliwo*-d to liis corps who have 
followed him to victory on so many fields. Let his officers and soldiers emu- 
late his invincible determination to do everything in the defence of our 
beloved country. 

K. E. Lee, General." 



MARYE'S and SALEM HEIGHTS. 365 

honors a mourning nation could pay, and were afterwards 
escorted to the spot he had chosen for his last resting-place, in 
Lexington, in the Yalley of Virginia. 

General Lee issued the following address to his army upon 
the close of the campaign. 

" Headquarteks Army Northern Virginia, 

May 7, 1863. 
'• GENERAL ORDER, 

No. 5. 

" With heai'tfelt gratification the General Commanding ex- 
presses to the army his sense of the heroic conduct displayed by 
officers and men during the arduous operations in which they 
have just been engaged. 

' ' Under trying vicissitudes of heat and storm you attacked 
the enemy, strongly intrenched in the depths of a tangled wilder- 
ness, and again on the hills of Fredericksburg, fifteen miles 
distant, and by the valor that has triumphed on so many fields, 
forced him once more to seek safety beyond the Rappahannock. 
While this glorious victory entitles you to the praise and grati- 
tude of the nation, we are especially called upon to return our 
grateful thanks to the only Giver of victory, for the signal 
deliverance He has wrought. 

" It is therefore earnestly recommended that the troops unite 
on Sunday next, in ascribing unto the Lord of hosts the glory 
due unto His name. 

" Let us not forget, in our rejoicing, the brave soldiers who 
have fallen in defence of their country ; and, while we mourn 
their loss, let us resolve to emulate their noble example. 

' ' The army and the country alike lament the absence for a 
time of one to whose bravery, energy and skill they are so 
much indebted for success. 

" The following letter from the President of the Confederate 
States is communicated to the army as an expression of his 
appreciation of their success : 



366 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

" ' I have received your dispatch, and reverently unite with 
you in giving praise to God for the success with which He has 
crowned our arms. In the name of the people, I offer my cor- 
dial thanks to yourself and the troops under your command, 
for this addition to the unprecedented series of great victories 
wiiich our army has achieved. The universal rejoicing pro- 
duced by this happy result will be mingled with a general regret 
for the good and the brave who are numbered among the killed 
and the wounded.' 

R. E. Lee, General.'' 

The cavalry column which General Hooker sent out to oper- 
ate on General Lee's communications, did not accomplish much 
as far as it was designed to injure the Southern armj^ The 
damage done to the Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad 
was repaired in two days, and the James River Canal was saved 
from injury.* The only mounted force which the Confederates 
could oppose to Stoneman's entire column, was W. H. F. Lee's 
brigade of two regiments. Yet this weak force prevented the 
enemy from injuring the Canal, and induced them to retreat 
sooner than there was any real necessity for. Still, the Fed- 
eral cavalry destroyed a large amount of property, created con- 
siderable alarm in the country through which they moved, 
committed many outrages upon the people, and had they been 
bold enough to make a sudden dash into Richmond, — a part 
of their command were within three miles of the city — there is 
no doubt that the Southern Capital would have been captured. 

General Lee took advantage of this raid to urge upon the 
Government the necessity of bringing the cavalry from North 
Carolina and the Southern States, where they were accomplish- 
ing nothing, and assigning them to duty with his army. Long 
before the enemy obtained control of the Mississippi River, he 

* General Lee's Beport. 



MARYE*S AND SALEM HEIGHTS. 367 

endeavored to persuade the Government to bring horses from 
Texas for the use of his army. His suggestions were unheeded 
at the time, and, in spite of the lesson taught by Stoneman, 
and the grave declaration of General Lee that if the cavalry 
force of his array was not strengthened, the Federals would be 
enabled to make raids anywher*? in the State without molesta- 
tion , the Government continued to treat the cavalry with neg- 
lect. 



368 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 



YIII. 
THE SECOND INVASIOxV OF THE IS^ORTH, 

June — July, 1863. 



PREPARATIONS FOR AN ADVANCE. 

The success of the Army of Northern Yirginia was more 
thtin counterbalanced by the disasters Avliich befell the Confed- 
erate arms in the West and Southwest. The army of General 
Bragg had suffered such a steady run of misfortune that the 
people of that section began to grow despondent. General 
Pemberton, by disregarding the orders of General Jolmston, 
had allowed General Grant to shut him up in the city of Vicks- 
burg, and lay siege to the place. Port Pludson had also been 
beseiged, and affairs in the Trans-Mississippi Department were 
in a discouraging condition. Only in Virginia had any suc- 
cesses been gained. 

The Confederate Government naturally desired to put an end 
tu this state of things, and it was evident that it must adopt 
some decided measure if it wished to accomplish anything. At 
first the design of the Government seemed to be to reduce the 
army in Virginia to a strict defensive, and send a portion of it 
to Mississippi, with the hope of forcing Grant to raise the siege 
of Vicksburg. Between the 10th and the 14th of May, tJie 



PEEPARATIONS FOR AN ADVANCE. 369 

Secretary of War requested General Lee to send Pickett's 
division on this expedition. The folly of such a course at once 
presented itself to General Lee, and he protested against it, 
declaring that in his opinion the measure was a doubtful and 
dangerous expedient ; that it was a question between the loss 
of Vicksburg and the loss of Virginia. Still, he stated that if 
the measure was still deemed necessary, he would send the 
division off at once. Pi'esident Davis, however, sustained Gen- 
eral Lee, and the matter was dropped. 

A few days later General Lee visited Richmond, and during 
this visit, the condition of the country and the measures for its 
relief were discussed, and the plan of campaign decided upon. 
Two plans were presented to the Government, — either to re- 
enforce Bragg, so as to enable him to drive back Eosecrans to 
tlie Ohio, or to reenforce General Lee, and attempt once more 
the invasion of the North. There were many reasons which 
made the latter course the more desirable. The victories on the 
Rappahannock had raised the morale of the Army of Northern 
Virginia to the highest state, and the army was in better disci- 
pline than it had ever been. It was now a body of ti'ied 
veterans, and, as General Longstreet once expressed it, was 
•'in a condition to undertake anything."* Besides this, the 
commissariat of the Confederacy was in such a condition as to 
render the speedy collection of supplies an absolute necessity, 
and it was thought that these supplies could be obtained in 
Pennsylvania more easily than elsewhere. It was l^own that 
Hooker's army was being decreased by expirations of enlist- 
ments and desertions, and that both the army and people of the 
North were somewhat despondent from their want of success in 
Virginia. It was thought, therefore, that the better plan would 
be to seize the favorable opportunity thus offered, and by an 
offensive campaign north of the Potomac, relieve the pressure 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 310. 
47 



370 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

upon the Western armies, and restore the advantage which was 
gradually being lost by the South. This time it was decided 
that General Lee should strike at Pennsylvania. 

Having decided to adopt this plan, measures were at once set 
on foot to prepare the army for the execution of it. 

The corps of General Longstreet returned to the army just 
after the battle of Chancellorsville. The death of General 
Jackson having made vacant the 2d corps, General Ewell was 
appointed to it, in compliance with a wish which General Jack- 
son himself had often expressed during his lifetime, and at the 
unanimous desire of the army and people. A third corps was 
organized, and the command given to General A. P. Hill, and 
both General Ewell and General Hill were raised to grade of 
Lieutenant General. The ranks were refilled to some extent 
by a vigorous enforcement of the conscription, and the troops 
better provided with arms and clothing than they had ever been. 
The discipline was made more rigid, drills and reviews were 
regularly held in order to increase the efficiency of the army, 
and new batteries of artillery were added to those already in 
the service. By the last of May the army was seventy thou- 
sand strong, with about ten thousand cavalry. Longstreet's 
corps consisted of the divisions of McLaws, Hood, and Pick- 
ett ; Ewell's corps, of the divisions of Early, Rodes, and 
Johnson ; and A. P. Hill's corps, of the divisions of Anderson, 
Pender, and Heth. 

These preparations were not unknown to the enemy. The 
Northern newspapers were filled with accounts of the manner 
in which General Lee was preparing his army for an invasion 
of the North, which information they professed to derive from 
Union men and " refugees" from the upper counties of Vir- 
ginia. 

Meanwhile the army of General Hooker had been very 
greatly reduced by the expiration of enlistments, and by deser- 



THE MARCH TO THE POTOMAC. 371 

tion. Jn the 13th of May, General Hooker, in a dispatch to 
President Lincoln, stated his force of infantry at about eighty 
thousand men. This brought the Southern army nearer to an 
equahty with the Army of the Potomac than it was at any other 
period of the war. 



II. 

OHE MARCH TO THE POTOMAC. 

By the Ibt of June the Southern preparations were ended, 
and all was in readiness for the advance. 

The first thing to be accomplished was to draw the army of 
General Hooker from its position on the Rappahannock. Gen- 
eral Lee so regulated his movements — having by this time 
come to a thorough understanding of the man he had to deal 
with — as to lead General Hooker to make corresponding ma- 
noeuvres to meet them, and he hoped that in doing this he 
might tempt the Federal commander into some operation which 
might either expose his army, or open to the Confederates an 
opportunity for a dash upon Washington. 

On the third of June, Longstreet's corps left its encamp- 
ments at Fredericksburg and on the Rapidan, and marched for 
Culpepper Court House, and was followed on the 4th and 5th 
by E well's corps. A. P. Hill was left at Fredericksburg to 
deceive Hooker by making it appear that the whole army was 
in its old position. 

The Federal commander, from the statements of the Nor- 
thern press, and his own private sources of information, was 
convinced that something unusual was going on in the Confed- 
erate camp. He was not satisfied as to the nature of the 
movement, but was inclined to believe that Lee was trying to 



372' LTFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

entrap liim, as he had done Major-Genei'al Pope not quite a 
vear previous ; and, in order to gain some light upon the sub- 
ject, he threw Sedgwick's corps across the Eappahannock at 
Deep Run, on the 6th. 

General Hill promptly dI.->posed his corps to prevent Sedg- 
wick's advance, and informed General Lee of the movement ; 
but as it was evident, from the nature of Sedgwick's opera- 
tions, that he had crossed the river merely for purposes of ob- 
servation, General Lee allowed Longstreet and Ewell to pro- 
ceed on their march,* and on the 8th these forces were concen- 
trated at Culpepper Court House, to which point, the cavalry, 
under General Stuart, had been sent a short time previous to 
the commencement of the movement. 

General Sedgwick's reconnoissance did not satisfy General 
Hooker, and as the latter was informed that Stuart was mass- 
ing his cavalry at Culpepper Court House, he determined to 
send all the Federal cavalry, supported by about three thou- 
sand infantry, to break up Stuart's camp. To this end, on the 
9th of June, General Pleasanton, who had succeeded General 
Stoneman, crossed the Rappahannock at Kelley's and Bever- 
ley's fords, with two divisions of cavalry, supported by two 
carefully selected brigades of infantry, and moved by converg- 
ing roads upon Culpepper Court House. General Stuart, 
however, had left the Court House, and had moved his com- 
mand to Brandy Station, in order to place himself on the flank 
of the army, and cover its movement in the advance north- 
ward. 

General William E. Jones' brigade was thrown out towards 
the Rappahannock, with its pickets at Beverley's Ford. About 
five o'clock, on the morning of the 9th, the column of General 
Buford drove in Jones' pickets at Beverley's Ford, and crossed 
the I'iver, while the remainder of the expedition, under General 

* General Lee's Report. 



THE MARCH 'lO THE POTOMAC. 373 

Gregg, moved to Kelley's Ford. Advancing through the 
woods, the Federals encountered Jones' brigade drawn up 
to resist their advance. An attack was immediately made upoD 
General Jones, who resi^tcd stoutly until the an-ival of W. H. 
F. Lee's and AVade Hampton's brigades, when the battle be- 
came fierce and obstinate. 

As the enemy were reported to be moving on Kelley's Ford, 
also, Genei-al Stuart &cnt Robertson's brigade in that direction 
about the same time the advance of Buford's column was made 
known. The Federal force at this point was the column of 
General Gregg. Gregg crossed the river early in the morn- 
ing, and drove back Robertson's brigade to Brandy Station, 
where the latter made a vigorous stand, but was compelled to 
withdraw from Fleetwood Heights, leaving them in possession of 
the enemy. 

Information of this reached General Stuart while he was en- 
gaged with Buford in front of Beverly's Ford. Leaving Lee's 
brigade to hold the enemy in check, he moved back with Hamp- 
ton's and Jones' brigades to Robertson's assistance. The fight- 
ing at the two points of collision was severe, and continued 
until late in the afternoon, when the enemy were driven at all 
points, and forced to recross the river with a loss of four hun- 
dred prisoners, besides their killed and wounded, which amount- 
ed to several hundred, three pieces of artillery and several 
colors. Stuart's loss was about five hundred, including: General 
AV. H. F. Lee, wounded.* 

* General Lee's Keport of " the Pennsylvania campaign." General Lee 
sent the following dispatch to Eichmond, announcing General Stuart's victory. 

" Cdlpeppee, Juno 9, 18C3. 
"To Genekal S. Coopeb: 

" The enemy crossed the Rappahannock this morning at 5 o'clock a. m., at 
the various fords from Beverly to Kelley's, with a large force of cavalry, accom- 
panied by infantry and artillery. After a severe contest till 5, p. bi.. General 
Stuart drove them across the river. 

K. E. Lee." 



374 LIFE OF GENERAL LFE. 

This engagement revealed to General Hooker the presence of 
a much larger force in Culpepper than he had supposed and to 
avert the blow which he supposed would be struck at his rear, 
he moved the 3d corps of his army, on the lltli of June, to Rap- 
pahannock Station and Beverley Ford, and posted his cavalry 
along the upper waters of the Rappahannock. He wns still 
completely at a loss to divine Lee's object, and supposed that 
the movements of the Confederates were directed against his 
communications with Washington. Tluis impressed, he turned 
his whole attention to guarding the line of the Rappahannock, 
and protecting himself against such a disaster as befell Poue in 
the summer of 1862. 

Having thus succeeded in throwing his adversary off the scent, 
General Lee put his army in motion for the border. General 
Imboden's command had been directed to make a demonstration 
upon Romney, and to destroy the Baltimore and Oliio Railroad, 
in order to draw attention from E well's movements, and prevent 
the enemy from sending any of their troops stationed on that 
railroad to the assistance of the garrison of Winchester. Gen- 
eral Jenkins, with his cavalry brigade, was ^^laced under General 
Ewell's orders for the purpose of cooperating with the f.nd 
corps in the advance into the Valley.* 

On the 10th of June, General Ewell left Culpepper Court 
House, and marched northward. Passing through Little Wash- 
ington, and moving with the utmost rapidity, he entered the 
Valley, and crossed the Shenandoah River at Front Royal. 
The roads leading to the Lower Valley had been strongly guard- 
ed by the cavalry of General Jenkins, whose pickets extended 
to within twelve miles of Winchester, so that no information (^^ 
the movement could reach the enemy at that place. 

Winchester was at this time held by about six thousand 
Federal troops under General Milroy, and a small force occr 

* General Lee's Report. 



THE MARCH TO THE POTOMAC. 375 

pied Martinsburg. The people of the Valley had been for some 
time compelled to submit to the numerous and dastardly out- 
rages of this man, and they hailed with joy the prospect of 
getting rid of him. So far had General Milroy proceeded in his 
brutality that the Confederate Government had been compelled 
to order its forces to refuse liini the rights of a prisoner of war 
if captured by them. He far surpassed General Pope in his 
inhumanity, and had neither military skill nor courage to recom- 
mend him for the post he held. 

Upon reaching Front Royal, General Ewell detached Rodes' 
division, and directed its commander to move rapidly upon 
Berryville, dislodge or capture the Federal force there, and 
march upon Martinsburg, so as to cut off the enemy's retreat to 
the Potomac. Rodes at once set off, and Ewell, taking with 
him Johnson's and Early's divisions, hurried towards Winches- 
ter. Reaching the vicinity of the town on the 13th, he drove 
the enemy into their works, and rapidly bringing his forces into 
position, invested the town. As it was difficult to obtain favor- 
able positions for his artillery on the hiils which commanded the 
town, General Ewell spent all of the 13th in manoeuvring and 
posting his batteries. The town was strongly fortified, and it 
was thought that Milroy would endeavor to hold it, but as it 
was important to clear the Valley at once. General Eweil 
resolved to storm the works the next day. Accordingly on the 
14th, the artillery of Early's division opened a heavy fire on 
the fortifications, soon silencing the Federal guns. Towards 
dark Early's infantry carried the redoubts by storm, capturing 
the greater part of the garrison. During the night, Milroy 
escaped with the remainder of his command. The majority of 
these men were intercepted by Johnson's division, but the Fed- 
eral commander managed to reach Harper's Ferry with a hand- 
ful of men. 

Meanwhile General Rodes had executed his orders to the 



376 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

letter. On the 13th he surprised the garrison of Berryville, 
capturing seven hundred men, and driving the remainder into 
Winchester. Pushing on, he occupied Martinsburg on the 
afternoon of the 14th, capturing over two hundred prisoners, 
several pieces of artillery, and a considerable quantity of amnm- 
nition and grain.* 

The movements of General Ewell took the enemy completely 
by surprise. They resulted in the freeing of the Valley from 
the presence of the enemy, the capture of Winchester and 
Martinsburg, with more than four thousand prisoners, twenty- 
nine pieces of artillery, two hundred and seventy wagons and 
ambulances, and a very large quantity of stores of various kinds. 
The Southern loss was small. The enthusiasm of the men was 
greatly increased by these successes. They saw that the mantle 
of their old commander had indeed fallen upon his successor, 
and they were also decidedly proud that in this advance they 
had sustained their old reputation for rapid movements by 
marching seventy miles in a little less than three days. 

General Ewell made a brief halt at Winchester, and then 
pushed on to the Potomac to secure the crossings. The garri- 
son at Harper's Ferry retired to Maryland Heights, and the 

* The following are the bulletins announcing Ewell's success. 

"To His Excellency Jefferson Davis: 

" June 15, 1863. — God has again crowned the valor of our troops with suc- 
cess. Early's division stormed the enemy's intrenchments at Winchester, 
capturing their artillery, &c. 

R. E. Lee." 

"CULPEPFER CODRT HOUSE, June 18, 1S63. 
"Geneeai, S. Coopee, Adjutant and Inspector-Geneeal: 

" General : On the afternoon of the 14th, General Rodes took possession of 
Martinsburg, capturing several pieces of artillery, more than two hundred 
prisoners, and a supply of ammunition and grain. 
" Our loss was one killed and two wounded. 

(Signed) R. E. Lee, General." 



THE MARCH TO THE POTOMAC. 377 

Valley was once more entirely in the hands of the ' ' Foot 
Cavalry." 

The telegraph conveyed to General Hooker news of Ewell's 
movements, and convinced him that he had been deceived by 
his wary antagonist. On the night of the 13th Sedgwick's 
Corps withdrew from A. P. Hill's front and recrossed the river, 
and the next day the whole Federal army withdrew from the 
line of the liappahannock, taking the roads leading to Ma- 
nassas, and halting and intrenching in the neighborhood of 
Centreville. 

A. P. Hill was ordered from Fredericksburg to the Valley, 
and as soon as he Avas satisfied of the withdrawal of the enemy 
from Stafford, he began his march. 

General Hooker was still under the impression that General 
Lee was aiming at his rear, and the position which he selected 
was chosen with a view of protecting his communications, and, 
at the same time, covering the Federal Capital. General Lee, 
who had with him only the corps of General Longstreet and 
the cavalry, kept a careful watch over the Federal army 
during its withdrawal from the Rappahannock, hoping for an 
opportunity to attack it. Had General Hooker followed the 
advice of General Halleck, who suggested the propriety of 
striking a blow at the " flank of the moving column,"* he 
would have afforded the occasion for which the great Com- 
mander of the South so anxiously longed. Hooker, however, 
had too much good sense to expose his army in this way, and 
the desired opportunity was not afforded. 

In order to draw the Federal army still farther from its base, 
and cover the march of A. P. Hill, who was now moving from 
Fredericksburg, Longstreet left Culpepper Court House on the 
15th, and passing along the east side of the Blue Ridge, occu- 
pied Ashby's and Snicker's Gaps, and this movement having 

* Report on the Conduct of the War. Second Series, vol. 1, p. 154. 
48 



378 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

succeeded in drawing Hooker away from Washington towards 
the mountains, A. P. Hill passed the Blue Ridge, entered the 
Valley, and took position at Winchester. 

Thus the masterly strategy of General Lee had in less than 
a fortnight drawn the Federal army away from the Rappahan- 
nock to the Upper Potomac, and planted the three corps of his 
own army in strong positions within supporting distance of each 
other, and from which they could command an easy entrance 
into the enemy's country without risk of being molested on their 
march by General Hooker. 

Still at a loss to divine his adversary's intentions, and anxious 
to learn the position of his forces. General Hooker threw for- 
ward his cavalry towards the Blue Ridge before which Stuart 
had disposed his troops to secure Longstreet's position. On the 
17th of Jane, General Pleasanton encountered two brigades of 
Confederate cavalry, under Stuart, near Aldie, and was driven 
back with loss. The next day the enemy renewed the engage- 
ment, their cavalry being strongly supported by infantry, and 
Stuart was, in turn, driven back.* Becoming partially in- 
formed as to Lee's position. Hooker sent the 12th corps of his 
army to Leesburg, the 5th to Aldie, the 2d to Thoroughfare 
Gap. He moved forward cautiously, and then, as if realizing 
that he was manoeuvring precisely as his adversary desired, 
confined himself to covering the Capital, and waited till Gen- 
eral Lee should fully disclose his designs. f 

This was soon done, for the advance of General Ewell into 
Pennsylvania had by this time rendered it necessary that Gen- 
eral Lee should move the rest of his army within supporting 
distance of Ewell. On the 24th of June, Longstreet and 
Hill crossed the Potomac, the former at Williamsport, the lat- 
ter at Shepherdstown. General Stuart was directed to leiaam 

* General Lee's Keport. 

t Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 318. 



IN THE enemy's COUNTRr. 379 

in Virginia, guard the passes of the mountains, observe the 
movements of the enemy, and impede and harass them as much 
as possible, should they attempt to cross the Potomac. As 
soon as the Federal army entered Maryland, he was to pass 
the border, moving either east or west of the Blue Ridge, as he 
should think best, and take his place on the right of General 
Lee's army as it advanced.* The absence of the cavalry during 
the march was severely felt by General Lee in the movements 
which are to be described, and its presence might have produced 
a different result. 



III. 

IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY. 

I have stated that the command of General Imboden was or- 
dered to operate against the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. He 
moved rapidly, and succeeded in destroying the road at impor- 
tant points, and on the 17th of June captured the city of Cum- 
berland, Maryland. 

General Jenkins' cavalry, after the investment of Winches- 
ter, were ordered by General Ewell to proceed at once to Penn- 
sylvania for the purpose of collecting supplies. They were pre- 
ceded by a part of Milroy's wagon trains, which had escaped. 
The frightened teamsters lashed their horses furiously through 
the streets of Chambersburg, and informed the inhabitants that 
the " Avhole rebel army" would be in the town before night. 
That night, June 14th, General Jenkins and his brigade ar- 
rived. The inhabitants of the town were kindly treated, but as 
some of them had fired upon the cavalry, after the surrender of 
the place, General Jenkins resolved to disarm them, and on the 

* General Lee's Report. 



380 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

morning of the 17th, required the citizens to surrender their 
arms. Some old muskets, sabres, and pistols, belonging to the 
Pennsylvania militia, were delivered to the Confederates by the 
citizens, together with a few shot guns which were the private 
property of the citizens. The muskets, pistols, and sabies, 
were almost all worthless, and General Jenkins, after selecting 
such as could be used, destroyed the remainder, but retuiiicd 
the shot guns to the authorities of the place.* On the ITtli, 
General Jenkins left the town, and returned to Virginia, having 
collected during his stay in Pennsylvania, a large number of 
cattle and horses, and a quantity of provisions, which he sent 
back over the Potomac in safety. The moderation displayed 
by General Jenkins towards the people of Pennsylvania, de- 
serves all the more credit, when it is remembered that his 
residence had been destroyed and his family rendered homeless 
by the enemy. 

The appearance of Jenkins in the Cumberland Valley, to- 
gether with the presence of Lee's army on the Upper Potomac, 
threw the North Into a fever of excitement. President Lincoln 
issued a proclamation calling upon the States of Maryland, Penn- 
sylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, to furnish one hundred 
thousand militia to serve for six months, " unless sooner dis- 
charged," to repel the Invasion. Even as far north as the city 
of New York, the most intense excitement prevailed, and troops 
were organized for local defence. 

The Federal Government on the 11th of June sent Major- 
General Couch to Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, and 
gave him command of the Department of the Susquehanna. 
General Couch was an officer of great ability, but he was sent 
to command a department without troops for its defence. He 
issued an appeal to the Pennsylvanians to take up arms for the 
defence of their State, and Governor Curtin called on the mlli- 

* New YorJc Herald, June 27, 1863. 



IN THE enemy's COUNTRY. 381 

tia to come forwartl, but the calls produced only a handful of 
militia, and it was not until New York gent several of her regi- 
ments to Harrisburg that General Couch was enabled to under- 
take anything like a defence of his department. Then he 
confined his efforts to the line of the Susquehanna, which he 
proceeded to fortify. 

It was in the midst of this excitement, and while the Northern 
newspapers were threatening that Lee would find millions of 
men with arms in their hands ready to receive him, that General 
Ewell's corps began its advance. It crossed the Potomac at 
Shepherdstown and Williamsport on the 22nd of June, and 
moved by two columns on Hagerstown. Passing through this 
place. General Ewell entered Pennsylvania on the 23rd, and, 
advancing up the Cumberland Valley, occupied Chambersburg 
the same day. As he crossed the State line, a militia force 
was observed drawn up at some little distance. This formi- 
dable body consisted principally of well-to-do farmers mounted 
on fat, sleek nags. The artillery battalion of Major Latimer 
was advanced to meet them, and at the second shot the jxallant 
horsemen wheeled and set off to the rear at full speed, followed 
by the derisive cheers of Ewell's infantry. 

Strict orders were issued by General Lee, previous to the 
advance of the army, requiring the men to respect private prop- 
erty. The citizens of Maryland and Pennsylvania were in- 
formed that such supplies as the army needed would be pro- 
cured in the country, and paid for in Confederate money, at 
the prices prevailing before the entrance of the Confederate 
troops into the State. If they failed to bring in such supplies 
they would be seized, under authority: and any article neces- 
sary for the support of the army, if concealed, would be confis- 
cated upon discovery. Those who declined to receive Confed- 
erate money would be given receipts for all produce furnished. 

General Ewell followed this order, immediately upon his 



382 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

arrival at Chambersburg, by requiring the citizens to suspend 
the sale of liquor during the occupation of the town, and to 
refrain from acts of hostility. 

On tho 27th of June the whole army was concentrated at 
Chambersburg. General Lee issued to his troops on that day 
an address commending them for the manner in which they had 
acted since their entrance into the North. 

" Headquarters Army Northern Virginia, 
Chambersburg, Pa., June 27, 18G3. 
" GENERAL ORDER, 

No 73. 

" The Commanding General has observed with marked satis- 
faction the conduct of the troops on the march, and confidently 
anticipates results commensurate with the high spirit they have 
manifested. No troops could have displayed greater fortitude 
or better performed the arduous marches of the past ten days. 

♦ The order referred to was as follows : 

" Headquaktees Second Cokps Akmy op Northekit Vikgikia, 
CHAMBEKSEnKO, PA, June 23, 18S3. 

" 1st. The sale of intoxicating liquors to this command, without a written 
permission from a Major General, is strictly prohibited. 

" 2d. Persons having liquor in their possession are required to report the 
fact to the Provost Marshal, or nearest general oflScer, stating the amount and 
kind, that a guard may be placed over it, and the men prevented from getting 
it. 

" 3d. Any violation of paragraph one, of this order, or failure to comply 
with paragraph two, will be punished by the immediate confiscation of all 
liquors in the possession of the offending parties, besides rendering them and 
their property liable to seizure. 

" 4th. Citizens of the country through which the army may pass, who are 
not in the military service, are admonished to abstain from all acts of hostility, 
upon the penalty of being dealt with in a summary manner. A ready ac- 
quiescence in the demands of the military authorities will serve greatly to 

lessen the rigor of war. 

By command of 

Libut.-Gen. R. S. Ewell." 
A. S. Pendleton, A. A. Gen. 



IN THE enemy's COUNTRY. 383 

Their conduct in other respects has, with few exceptions, been 
in keeping with their character as soldiers, and entitles them to 
approbation and praise. 

" There have, however, been instances of forgetfulness on 
the part of some, that they have in keeping the yet unsullied 
reputation of the army, and that the duties exacted of us by 
civilization and Christianity are not less obligatory in the country 
of the enemy than in our own. 

*' The Commanding General considers that no greater dis- 
grace could befall the army, and through it, our whole people, 
than the perpetration of the barbarous outrages upon the inno- 
cent and defenceless, and the wanton destruction of private 
property, that have marked the course of the enemy in our own 
country. Such proceedings not only disgrace the perpetrators, 
and all connected with them, but are subversive of the discipline 
and efficiency of the army, and destructive of the ends of our 
present movements. It must be remembered that we make 
war only upon armed men, and that we cannot take vengeance 
for the wrongs our people have suffered, without lowering our- 
selves in the eyes of all whose abhorrence has been excited by 
the atrocities of our enemy, and offending against Him to whom 
vengeance belongeth, without whose favor and support our 
efforts must all prove in vain. 

*' The Commanding General, therefore, earnestly exhorts the 
troops to abstain, with most scrupulous care, from unnecessary 
or wanton injury to private property ; and he enjoins upon all 
officers to arrest and bring to summary punishment all who 
shall in any way offend against the orders on this subject. 

R. E. Lee, General" 

There were some few violations of these orders, but they 
were too few to require notice. The citizens were protected in 
their property and persons, and guards given to such as asked 



384 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

for tliem. The fidelity with whicli these guards discharged 
their duty is well shown by a single instance — that of a trooper 
with a half-starved horse keeping watch over a rich wheat-field, 
and preventing his own horse from cropping the grain. The 
conduct of the Confederate army in Pennsylvania furnishes a 
noble contrast to that of any portion of the Federal army in 
any part of the South. 

The absence of General Stuart and the cavalry was now felt 
to a greater degree than ever. Since crossing the Potomac 
nothing had been heard of the Federal army, and for want of 
cavalry no reliable information could be gained as to its prog- 
ress. In order to retain it on the east side of the Blue Ridge, 
and thus keep open his communications with the Valley of Vir- 
ginia, thi'ough Hagerstown and Williamsport, General Lee or- 
dered General Ewell to send a division east of South Mountain. 
Early's division was detached for this purpose, and proceeded 
as far east as York, Avhile the remainder of Ewell's corps took 
the roiid to Carlisle.* 

Preparations were now made for an advance upon Harris- 
burg, and the army was about to move in that direction when 
its progress was arrested by the first reliable news that reached 
it, after passing the Potomac, concerning the progress of the 
Federal army. 

As soon as he was satisfied that General Lee had passed the 
border, General Hooker crossed the Potomac at Edwards' Fer- 
ry, on the 25th and 26th of June, and moved towards Fred- 
erick, a position of great importance, as it would enable him 
either to pass South Mountain and intercept Lee's communica- 
tions, or move northward toward the Susquehanna should Lee 
advance upon Harrisburg. General Hooker's design was to 
adopt the former plan, and plant his army upon Lee's line of 
retreat. For this purpose he advanced his left wing to Middle- 

* General Lee's Report. 



IN THE enemy's COUNTRY. 385 

ton, and sent the 12th corps, under Genenil Slocum, to Plar- 
per's Ferry. He intended that the garrison of that post, eleven 
thousand strong, should unite with Slocum, and threaten Lee's 
rear by a movement towards Chambersburg.* This plan of 
taking away the garrison of Harper's Ferry, involved General 
Hooker in a quarrel with General Halleck, and on the 27th of 
June, Hooker requested to be relieved from the command of 
the army. His request was granted, and on the 28th he was 
succeeded by INIajor-General George G. Meade. 

The new commander was almost a stranger to the Northern 
people, though enjoying, to an unusual degree, the confidence 
of the army with which he had been identified since its organi- 
zation. He was an able, energetic, and cautious commander, 
who weighed well the chances of success before committing 
himself to any undertakhag. Though General Meade never 
rose to the height of a great soldier, he was a man who un- 
derstood his profession too thoroughly to fail to do honor to it, 
and his appointment was one of the wisest ever made by his 
Government, which also had the good sense to refrain from 
trammelling him with instructions to pursue any definite policy, 
leaving him to be guided by the necessities of the situation. 
General Meade found the army lying in the vicinity of Fred- 
erick City, with its left thrown out at Middleton. 

This was the situation of the Federal army when, on the night 
of the 29th of June, General Lee was informed that its advanced 
force was beyond Middleton, threatening to move over the 
mountains and assail his communications. Evvell was at York 
and Carlisle with his corps, and Stuart was still absent with 
the cavalry. 

To draw the enemy away from the Potomac, General Lee 
resolved to 'concentrate his army east of the mountains. Ac- 
cordingly Generals Longstreet and Hill were directed to move 

• Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, pp. 321, 324, 



386 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

from Chambersburg to Gettysburg, and General Ewell was re- 
called fi'om York and Carlisle, and ordered to the same point. 
The march was conducted very leisurely, as the movements of 
the Federal army were unknown. Had Stuart been retained 
with the army, Lee would have been informed of his adver- 
sary's march, and would have hastened to occupy Gettysburg 
before Meade could reach It. 

Meanwhile General Stuart had hung upon the flanks and 
rear of the Federal army while it remained in Virginia, but he 
found it impossible to delay its march to any perceptible degree. 
On the 27th of June he occupied Fairfax Court House, captur- 
ing a quantity of stores. As he could not delay the enemy, 
however, he crossed the Potomac at Seneca Falls, and, mov- 
ing east of Meade's army, passed through Westminster, and 
reached Carlisle just after the departure of General Ewell for 
Gettysburg. The route he pursued prevented him from being 
of any service to General Lee until he reached Carlisle, as 
Meade's army was between him and his commander previous to 
his arrival at that point. 

Meanwhile General Meade had learned that General Lee was 
moving east of the mountains, and supposing that the Confed- 
erate commander ^vould seek to attack him, he set about select- 
ing a favorable position in which to receive the assault. He 
chose the general line of Pipe Creek, •' on the dividing ridge 
between the Monocacy and the waters running into the Ches- 
apeake Bay," as the best defensive position, though he deter- 
mined to be guided, in occupying it, by the movements of his 
adversary.* He learned General Lee's presence east of South 
Mountain on the night of the 30th, and at once ordered the 
right wing of his army (the 6th corps) to INIanchester, in the 
rear of Pipe Creek ; the 2d corps was directed to move on 
Taney town, accompanied by the headquarters of the army ; the 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 326. 



GETTYSBURG. 387 

centre (the 12th and 5th corps) were to march to Two Tav- 
erns and Hanover, a little beyond Pipe Creek ; while the left 
wing (the 1st, 3d, and 11th corps) under General Reynolds, 
ivas to advance upon Gettysburg, this last point being consid- 
3red the most favorable position nearest Lee's line of march. 
These movements were to commence at sunrise the next day. 
Thus both armies were aiming for the same point , — Lee to 
occupy Gettysburg with his whole force, because of its strat- 
egic importance in commanding his line of retreat, and Meade 
to occupy it with only his left wing, until the rest of his army 
could take position on Pipe Creek, for he was not aware then 
of the greater advantages ofFeied by the country around Gettys- 
burg for defensive operations.* Had but the cavalry been 
present with the Southern army, Gettysburg could have been 
occupied by General Lee fully twenty-four hours earlier than he 
arrived there. 



IV. 
GETTYSBURG. 

As I have shown, both armies were marching upon Gettys- 
burg, one for a fixed and definite purpose, the other merely to 
cover its real design. On the 29tli of June the Federal cav- 
alry, under General Buford, which had boon t^i:)\yn out to 
observe the movements of the Confederates, oceL!|)ied the town 
for purposes of observation. General Reynolds being ordered 
to Gettysburg, Buford held the town until his arrival. 

In the meantime the Confederates marched leisurely, and on 
the night of June 30th, two divisions of Hill's corps bivouacked 
only six or seven miles from Gettysburg, on the Baltimore and 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, pp. 326, 327. 



388 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Chambersburg road, while Ewell halted at Heildersburg, on the 
Carlisle road, only nine miles from Gettysburg. At this time 
all of Longstreet's corps was west of the mountains, and but 
two divisions of Hill's corps were east of them. On the same 
night General Reynolds, with the left wing of the Federal 
army, encamped on Marsh Creek, four miles south of Gettys- 
burg, with orders to occupy the town the next morning. 

On the morning of July 1st, A. P. Hill and Ewell resumed 
their advance, and about nine o'clock Hill's advanced divisions 
encountered Buford's cavalry on the Chambersburg road, about 
a mile from Gettysburg. General Buford had been informed 
of the march of General Reynolds to occupy the town, and he 
disposed his forces to resist Hill until Reynolds could come up. 
By the skilful manner in which his artillery was served, he suc- 
ceeded in holding his ground until the arrival of the 1st corps, 
which Reynolds had hurried forward to his assistance. General 
Reynolds was under instructions not to bring on an action at 
Gettysburg, but to retire to Pipe Creek if the Confederates 
appeared in force at the former place,* but upon his ari-ival 
there, he found Buford's cavalry so hard pressed that he was 
forced to bring up his main body to save them. 

General Reynolds formed his line to the west of Gettysburg, 
just back of a small stream called Willoughby's Run. His 
troops were posted on the right and left of the Chambersburg 
road, partly in open ground and partly in a strip of woods bor- 
dering the stream. He brought with him the leading division 
of the 1st corps, and ordered the remainder of the troops to 
press on with all speed. 

By this time only the division of General Heth, of Hill's 
corps, which was in the advance, had come up. This division 
had pressed Buford hard, and now made a vigorous attack upon 
Reynolds' infantry. The attack was made with such spirit that 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac — p. 331. 



GETTYSBURG. 389 

a part of the Federal line was driven back, but as the Confed- 
erates pressed on to follow up their success, they were them- 
selves repulsed by an attack on their right flank, led by General 
Keynokls in person. In this charge the Confederates lost 
several hundred men, captured, including Brigadier- General 
Archer ; while the enemy lost their commander, General Rey- 
nolds, who was killed by a rifle-ball. The death of this 
officer was a great loss to the Federal army. He was a brave 
and skilful soldier, an honest-hearted gentleman, and had con- 
ducted himself so humanely and generously to the people of 
Fredericksburg that they mourned his death almost as though 
he had been one of their own leaders. 

The enemy also rallied and regained the ground from which 
they had been driven on their right, capturing two regiments of 
Davis' brigade of Mississippians. By this time the whole of 
the 1st corps of the Federal army had come up, and Heth was 
reenforced by Anderson's division of Hill's corps. Hill's troops 
pressed heavily upon the Federal left, causing it to make great 
exertions to hold its ground. Strong reenforcements were hur- 
ried by the enemy to this point of their line, and the battle went 
on fiercer than ever. 

Meanwhile General Evvell had been marching rapidly from 
Heildersburg, warned by the sound of the guns that the two 
armies had come in collision at Gettysburg. His advanced di- 
vision, under Rodes, came upon the field just as Hill was bear- 
ing down heavily upon the Federal left. Bringing his division 
promptly into action, screened from the enemy's observation, 
and seizing a commanding position on the Northern right, Rodes 
opened a determined attack on the Federals, who immediately 
brought up a division of infantry to strengthen this part of their 
line, and succeeded in capturing several hundred men of Iver- 
son's North Carolina brigade. 

Thus far the battle seemed evenly balanced between the con- 



396*' LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

tendino- forces. It was now one o'clock, and the lines of the 
two armies had been gradually extended towards the right in a 
semi-circle around the town for a distance of several miles. The 
11th corps of the Federal army now arrived, General Howard 
havinoj assumed the command of the field immediately upon the 
fall of General Reynolds. Pender's division of Hill's corps 
reached the opposite line, about the same time, and a few min- 
utes later Early's division of Ewell's corps also arrived and 
took position on the north of the town, across the Harrisburg 
road, causing the enemy to extend their lines still farther to the 
right. 

About three o'clock Early made a furious attack upon the 
Federal right, under General Barlow, and drove it back with 
heavy loss. General Barlow himself being left on the field se- 
verely wounded. At the same time Rodes, whose position, 
opposite the Federal centre, was the key-point to the field, 
broke through the enemy's line. These successes were followed 
by a general advance of Hill's entire corps and Ewell's two 
divisions. The enemy were swept back, and driven through 
Gettysburg in confusion, with the loss of about five thousand 
pi'Isoners, and several pieces of artillery. The Confederates 
followed in hot pursuit until checked by orders from their com- 
mander. 

Meanwhile the death of General Reynolds had been reported 
to General Meade, and he sent General Hancock to take com- 
mand of the left wing, with orders to hold his ground at Gettys- 
burg if he found the position to be better than at Pipe Creek. 
If his opinion of the position was favorable, he was to inform 
General Meade, who would at once bring up the whole array ; 
but it' unfavorable, he was to retire to Pipe Creek.* General 
Hancock was too good a soldier not to see instantly that here 
was just the position Meade was in search of, but his first care 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 334. 



GETTYSBURG. 391 

was to rally his beaten troops in order to hold it. In this task 
he succeeded, the halt of the Confederates giving him an oppor- 
tunity of doing so, and he formed his line along ridge the south 
and west of the town, known as Cemetery HilL 

This position was so strong that General Lee decided not to 
attack it until Longstreet and the remainder of Ewell's corps 
should come up. He sent orders to these troops to hasten their 
march, and efforts were made to discover the enemj-'s strength 
and exact position. It would have been better for General Lee had 
he pressed his pursuit and stormed the heights before Hancock 
had succeeded in rallying his troops. Such a movement would 
have wrested from the enemy the strongest defensive position 
ever assailed by the Army of Northern Virginia, and also have 
forced General Hancock to retire to Pipe Creek. Nothing but 
this strange hesitation on the part of General Lee enabled the 
enemy to hold the ridge. 

The afternoon was spent in reconnoitering the Federal line, 
and by nightfall the opportunity which General Lee threw 
aside had passed by. 

Tlie town of Gettysburg lies in the centre of a small valley 
formed by several ranges of bills. North of the town the 
country is not so rugged, but south, east and west of it the hills 
are high and abrupt. To the westward, distant about a mile, is 
a ridge bordering the east bank of Willoughby's Run. About 
a quarter of a mile from the town, in the same direction is 
another considerable elevation, called Seminary Ridge. It was 
in the valley between these ridges that the battle of July Ist 
was fought. South of the town, and about a quarter of a mile 
distant, is the Gettysburg ridge, running due south. Just 
beyond the limits of Gettysburg, this Ridge makes a sudden 
bend to the eastward, and then turning to the right again, falls 
off towards the south, forming a hook. Where it bends to the 
eastward the ridge is called Cemetery Hill, from its being the 



3i)2 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

place of burial for the citizens of Gettysburg, and still farther 
to the right it is known as Gulp's Hill. Fi-oni Cemetery Hill 
the ridge is sharp and rugged for about three miles to the soutli- 
wai'd, where it terminates in a high, wooded peak, called Round 
To}), the lower or northern part of this peak being known as 
Little Round Top, or Weed's Hill. At the base of Gulp's Hill 
flows Rock Greek, a small stream emptying into the Monocacy, 
while another creek, called Plum Run, flows along almost the 
entire front of the Gemetery Ridge from near Gemetery Hill 
proper, to beyond Round Top. The country west of the ridge 
is broken, and is commanded by it. Three prominent roads 
pass over the ridge. The Taneytown road, running due south, 
crosses it at the Gemetery ; the Baltimore turnpike crosses the 
ridge east of the Gemetery, and runs southeast, Avhile the 
Emmettsburg Road passes along the lower part of the ridge, 
and runs southwest. A line drawn along the crest of the 
ridge from the end of Gulp's Hill to Round Top will measure a 
distance of four miles. The crest of the hill is mainly in tilled 
fields, with here and there a patch of woods, frilling off gradually 
towards the rear, and aflTording excellent shelter for trains and 
reserves . * 

During the night of the 1st, General Meade brought up the 
I'emainder of his army, with the exception of the 6th corps, 
which was hurrying on from Manchester, and posted it upon 
Gemetery Ridge. His right consisting of Slocum's corps (the 
12th) and Wadsworth's division of the 1st corps held the riglit, 
on Gulp's Hill; the centre, consisting of Howard's (11th) 
corps, and Robinson's and Doubleday's divisions of the 1st 
corps, held Gemetery Plill ; and the left, consisting of the corps 
of Hancock (2d) and Sickles (3d) was disposed along Geme- 
tery Ridge. Sykes' corps (5th) was held in reserve on the right, 
and Sedgwick was still to come up. The right and a part 

♦Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, pp. 33G, 337. 



GETTYSBURG. 393 

<)i' '.lie centre of the line faced to the north, and the remainder 
1.^ tlie west. The force with which General Meade held this 
iiiMunificent position numbered (including Sedgwick's corps) 
l.lly one hundred thousand men, together with about two hun- 
(lii'd guns. 

The Confederates, after the battle of July 1st, occupied the 
town of Gettysburg, and the country to the right and left of it, 
lying immediately in front of and commanded by the position 
of the Federal army. Ewell was on the left, and held the 
town ; Plill's corps occupied Seminary Ridge, and Longstreet, 
who arrived with two of his divisions on the morning of the 
3d, was posted on Hill's right, his line extending across the 
Emmettsburg Road, directly in front of Round Top. 

It was not General Lee's original intention to fight a general 
battle so far from his base of operations, and indeed, judging 
merely by the positions held by the two armies, it is strange 
that he allowed himself to be drawn into one. His army had 
before it the task of storming a rocky fortress stronger than that 
against which Burnside had dashed his army so madly at Fred- 
ericksburg, and every chance of success lay with the Federals. 
Still, when the two armies found themselves facing each other 
so unexpectedly, a change of some kind from their original 
j)lans became necessary. 

The reader will remember that General Lee, in abandoning 
Ills march upon Harrisburg, and moving east of the mountains, 
had not done so for the purpose of attacking General Meade, 
but merely to draw him from the movement against the com- 
munications of the Confederate army. Indeed, when he set 
out upon the campaign, General Lee promised his Corps Com- 
manders that he "would not assume a tactical offensive, but 
force his antag^onist to attack him." * It would have been well 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 340. 
51 



394 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

for him had he remained steadfast in this determination. He 
states his reasons for his sudden departure from his original 
programme, as follows : 

" It had not been intended to fight a general battle at such a 
distance from our base, unless attacked by the enemy ; but 
finding ourselves unexpectedly confronted by the Federal army, 
it became a matter of great difficulty to withdraw through the 
mountains with our lar^re trains. At the same time the coun- 
try was unfavorable for collecting supplies while in the presence 
of the enemy's main body, as he was occupying the passes of 
the mountains with regular and local troops. A battle thus 
became, in a measure, unavoidable. Encouraged by the suc- 
cessful issue of the engagement of the first day, and in view of 
the valuable results that would ensue from the defeat of the 
army of General Meade, it was thought advisable to renew the 
attack.* 

So for as his trains were concerned. General Lee fell into a 
strange error. A very large part of them were still west of the 
mountains, and those which had come up with the army might 
have been removed. The Southern line covered the passes of 
the mountains which would have secured the safety of the 
trains in moving through these defiles. Stuart was now up 
with the cavalry, and could guard them if necessary against any 
sudden dash of the enemy. The trains were withdrawn after 
the battle under more unfavorable circumstances, and there is no 
reason to doubt that they could have been gotten off as success- 
fully before as after the engagement. 

I do not mean that General Lee should have retreated with- 
out a battle, for I readily admit that such a step would have 
greatly injured his army. There were other movements by 
which General Meade might have been drawn from his strong- 
hold and forced to assume the ofiTensive. The reader will 

* General Lee's Report. 



GETTYSBURG. 395 

remember that the position of General Longstreet gave him 
control of the Emmettsburg road. This really placed the right 
wing of the Southern army between Meade and W;;shington. 
By moving at once upon Frederick, General Lee could have 
drawn the Federal army from Cemetery Ridge, and had Gen- 
eral ^Nleade attempted to interfere with the movement by 
attacking the Confederate commander, he would have alForded 
General Lee just the opportunity for which he had been v/atch- 
ing. General Longstreet was very anxious to attempt this 
movement, and urged it upon General Lee, but the latter 
thought it better to make a direct attack.* 

There are those who assert that General Lee himself was not 
free from the contempt entertained by his men for tlie army 
they had so frequently vanquished, and that he was influenced 
by it in his decision upon this occasion. This may or may not 
be true. It is certain that the decision was an error. 

Tlie morning of the 2d of July found the two armies con- 
fronting each other in their new positions. The greater portion 
of the day was spent in disposing the troops, and it was not 
until a quarter to five in the afternoon that the Confederates 
began their attack. 

The enemy's force on their left, consisting of General Sickles' 
corps, had been thrown forward, during the morning, to secure 
what seemed to be a commanding position on the ridge trav- 
ersed by the Emmettsburg road. Instead of gaining any ad- 
vantage by this movement, however, General Sickles merely 
exposed the Federal left, and placed iiis own corps in a more 
unfavorable position than it had at first occupied. General Lee 
qu'.ckly detected it, and directed General Longstreet to get 
posession of it, as it would be of great service to him in his at- 
tack upon Meade's main line. 

At fifteen minutes to five, Longstreet's artillery opened a 

♦ Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 341. 



396 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

heavy cannonade upon Sickles' position, and in a few minutea 
the firing was taken up by Ewell, on the left. Under the 
cover of this fire, Hood's division was thrown forward against 
Sickles' left, which curved back from a peach orchard on the 
Emmettshurg road towards Round Top. JNIaking a sharp at- 
tack upon the enemy before him, Hood moved gradually to the 
right, and threw his right wing into the interval between 
Sickles' extreme left and Round Top. Little Round Top was, 
at this time, almost undefended,* and had Hood known it he 
might have seized it, and thus have gained tlie key point to the 
Federal line. This fact being unknown to him, however, he 
confined his efforts to the attempt to dislodge Sickles from his 
position, and approached Little Round Top cautiously, and 
with only a part of his division, making every effort, however, 
to gain the hill. 

At this moment, however, General Warren, Meade's Chief 
of Engineers, who was inspecting this pnrt of the line, seeing 
the danger which threatened the Federal army, by great exer- 
tions brought up a brigade of infantry and a battery of artillery, 
just as Hood's troops were nearing the hiil-t Hood's men 
made a gallant attack, charging the enemy's line with great de- 
termination. The Federals resisted stoutly, and a liund-to- 
hand fight ensued for the works, in which both lost heavily, but 
which resulted in the repulse of the Texans, and in confining 
them to the rugged glen at the base of the hill, from which the 
enemy could not dislodge them. An effort was then made to 
turn tlie Federal left by working cautiously up the ravine be- 
tween Round Top and Little Round Top, but this was also 
prevented by the enemy. 

While these efforts were being made on his right, Hood had 
thrown his left against the centre of Sickles' line, and as soon 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 345. 
t Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 346. 



GETTYSBURG. 39 T 

as he had become fairly engaged, Longstrcet had advanced Mc- 
Lavvs' divl.<ion to his support. These troops assailed tickles so 
vigorously that he was soon compelled to call for rr.enforcc- 
ments. Three brigades were sent to him, but they were pow- 
erless to hold the position. Longstreet directed his principal 
attack upon the exact centre of Sickles* line, and at a point 
near the peach orchard to which I have referred, and, pressing 
the enemy vigorously in this quarter, broke their troops and 
drove them from the orchard, gaining possession of the kev 
points to Sickles' advanced line. The Federals made three or 
four desperate efforts to regain the orchard, but each onset Avas 
repulsed with heavy slaughter, and General Longstreet contin- 
ued to advance his corps steadily. 

To check his advance the enemy brought up a fresh division, 
under General Caldwell, and attacked Longstreet, who had 
reached a wheat field and strip of woods bordering the west 
side of Plum Kun. A sharp encounter took place here, and 
the eneniv seemed to be gaining ground, when Hood, who had 
by this time driven back Sickles' left and carried its whole posi- 
tion, came up on the right of the peach orchard. To meet him 
the enemy advanced Ay res' division of regulars, but the Con- 
federates penetrated an interval between Caldwell's left and 
Ayres' right, and drove both divisions back upon their main 
line at Cemetery Ridge. 

At the same instant A. P. Hill, who had been ordered to 
threaten the Federal centre, but to refrain from attacking unless 
a good opportunity presented itself, made a fierce attack with 
Anderson's division upon Humphreys' division, which consti- 
tuted Sickles' right wing, and which, having been until that 
moment unassailed, had held its position. Humphreys was 
driven back quickly, and the entire advanced position of Sickle? 
fell into the hands of the Confederates, General Sickles himself 
being disabled by the loss of a leg. 



398 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Still the Federal main line remained unassailed, and its 
strength was such that General Longstreet had but little hope 
of carrying it. His men pressed on, however, and reached 
Cemetery Ridge, where the enemy had been rallied by General 
Hancock. A partial attack was made and repulsed, and find- 
ing that night was rapidly approaching, General Longstreet 
withdrew his troops to the western verge of the wheat field, 
where they remained during the night. 

While Longstreet was thus engaged on the right, Ewell, in 
obedience to General Lee's orders, made a direct attack upon 
the right centre of the Federal army at Cemetery and Gulp's 
Hills. Moving out of the town as Longstreet became hotly 
engaged, he commenced to form his line. It was General Lee's 
design that this demonstration should keep the attention of the 
Federals too- closely confined to their right to permit them to 
send reenfoi'cements to their left where his real attack was to be 
made. General Ewell was delayed in his movements, however, 
and did not assail the enemy until near sunset. 

Under the cover of his artillery, he advanced Early's division 
against Cemeteiy Hill, and Johnson's division against Gulp's 
Hill. As Early marched out of the town the Union forces 
opened upon him with a battery of artillery, at a distance of 
eight hundred yards, but quickly gaining the open country, he 
formed his line and moved on under a heavy fire from twenty 
guns loaded with shrapnel and canister. This fire was so severe 
that the centre of Early's line gave way ; but the right,* which 
was more sheltered from the enemy's fire, pressed on and gained 
the crest. The artillerists made a gallant fight for their guns, 
and succeeded in holding their ground until the arrival of reen- 
forcements, when Hays and Hoke were compelled to fall back. 
Rodes' division had been ordered to support General Early, 
'* but when the time' came to attack, Eodes, not having his 

* Hays' and Hoke's brigades. 



GETTYSBURG. 399 

troojis in position, was unprepared to cooperate with Early." * 
Ii;i(l his division been at hand to sustain the efforts of Hays' 
and rioke, the h)dgenient gained by them would have been 
final, and the Federal right would have been turned. 

On E well's left the attempt was more successful, Johnson's 
division, advancing up the gorge of Rock Creek, attacked the 
right of Meade's line at Gulp's Hill, and after a sharp fight suc- 
ceeded in securing a part of the Federal breastworks on the 
extreme right. The enemy had greatly weakened this part 
of their line to meet the attack of General Longstreet, and but 
for the approach of night, which now compelled General John- 
son to suspend operations, the success in this quarter would 
have been pushed still farther. As it was, he arranged his 
command to hold the position he had gained in the Union works 
and which, if retained during the next day, would enable Gen- 
eral Lee to take Meade's whole line in reverse. 
• When niglit came matters stood thus : Longstreet had 
carried the entire position in his front occupied in the morning 
by Sickles' corps, and Evvell had effected a lodgement on the 
crest on the Federal right. The enemy had suffered in the two 
days' encounters, the heavy loss of twenty thousand men, with 
many of their best officers killed or disabled. The Confederates 
had paid heavily for their successes. General Barksdale had 
been left, mortally w^ounded, in the enemy's lines, and many 
valuable officers had fallen, while the loss in killed, wounded, 
and missing was severe. Still the successes of the 1st and 2d, 
decided General Lee to renew the attack the next day. 

During the night the enemy strengthened their position with 
earthworks, and prepared to recover that part of their line that 
had been wrested from them by General Johnson. A strong 
force of artillery was posted within easy range of Johnson's 
division, and the 12th corps and two divisions and a brigade of 

* General Lee's last Report of the Gettysburg Campaign. 



400 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

the 6th corps were ordered to take position to attack the Con- 
federates the next morning. 

At four o'clock on the morning of July 3d, the enemy 
ODened a heavy fire from their artillery, and the infantry men- 
tioned moved forward to drive Johnson from the ridge. 
Although so greatly overmatched, Johnson made a gallant 
resistiince, but after a severe engagement of four hours was 
driven from the hill, and the enemy reestablished their line. 

It had been General Lee's intention to strengthen Ewell, and 
make his main attack this time on the Federal right, but the 
disaster which befell Johnson rendered this inexj)edicnt, and he 
now resolved to break the enemy's centre, and drive their two 
wings apart, and in order to effect this more easily he spent the 
entire forenoon in massing his artillery opposite the Federal 
centre. His [>lan was as follows : His artillery was to open 
fire at one o'clock, and silence the Federal batteries. A strong 
column of infantry was to storm the heights as soon as the 
firing ceased, and carry the Federal centre; the remainder of 
the army being held in readiness to move forward at any 
moment. 

During the morning there was a lull, the Confederates made 
their preparations Avith vigor, and by noon had posted one 
hundred and forty-five pieces of cannon on Seminary Ridge, 
opposite Meade's centre. To reply to these batteries, the 
Federals, who could see the concentration of the Southern 
guns, lined the crest of Cemetery Hill with eighty pieces of 
cannon. 

At one o'clock, General Lee opened fire from his batteries, 
and the Federal guns replied soon after. For two hours this 
tremendous cannonade went on without slackening, when the 
Federals, finding their ammunition running low, gradually 
ceased firing, and the Confederate columns of attack com- 
menced to move forward. 



GETTYSBURG. 401 

The duty of carrying the Federal position was assijined 
to the division of Major General Pickett (which had been 
absent during the fight of the previous day), supported by 
Heth's division of Hill's corps, commanded by General Petti- 
grcw. Pickett's division was less than five thousand strong, 
owing to the absence of two of its brigades, but was composed 
of the flower of the Virginia infantry, and was an object of 
pride to the whole army. Heth's division was made up prin- 
cipally of conscripts from North Carolina. The brigade of 
General Wilcox was also desired to cover Pickett's rio-ht flank 
during his advance. The attacking column was about thirteen 
thousand strong, and the command of the whole was given to 
General Pickett. 

As the Federal guns ceased firing, Pickett, having formed his 
line, moved forward across the open plain in front of the enemy's 
works. Kemper's and Garnett's brigades were in front, with 
Armistead following close behind. Pettigrevv was moving on 
the left, and Wilcox with his troops in columns of battalions 
following on the right. As steadily, as if marching on parade, 
the columns advanced, and when they reached the Emmettsburg 
Road the Confederate batteries became silent, as they could no 
longer fire safely over the heads of the advancing infantry. 
The enemy greeted their approach with terrific discharges of 
grape and canister, before which the Confederates went down 
by scores. Still the line pressed on, winning the admiration of 
eyen its foes by the magnificence of its advance. Suddenly, 
when the crest was almost reached, the hill blazed with the fire 
of the Federal infantry, and Pettigrew's division, in spite of the 
efforts of its gallant commander to rally it, broke in dismay and 
fled from the field, leaving two thousand prisoners and fifteen 
standards in the hands of the Union Army. 

But the Virginians pressed on, led by their heroic commander, 
with his long hair waving in the breeze, and his sword pointing 
Btraight on to the enemy. 



402 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

" Steady they step adown the slope, 
Steady they climb the hill, 
Steady they load, steady they fire, 
Marching right onward still," 

while the iron hail-storm sweeping through their ranks strewed 
the earth with their dead and dying. There was no wavering 
among them, for they were fighting for the honor of the Old 
Dominion. The gaps in their line were closed up as fast as 
made, and with wild cheers of triumph they gained the crest, 
drove the Federals from the works, and amid the gloom and 
smoke General Lee saw through his glass the blue flag of 
Virginia waving: from the crest of Cemetery Ridire. 

The triumph was dearly won, and was as brief as it was glo- 
rious. The enemy rallied on their second line, and poured a 
withering fire into the captured works now hekl by the Virgin- 
ians. Glancing around to look for his supports, Pickett found 
that he was alone, that Pettigrew's men had fled and left him to 
his fate. His grand charge had been in vain. Every brigade 
commander and all, but one field officer, had fallen, and it was 
by a miracle only that General Pickett himself had escaped. 
The enemy were rapidly thinning his ranks, and it was vain to 
attempt to liold the works. All that courage could do had 
been done, and it remained but to save the remnant of the divi- 
sion. Reluctantly he gave the order to fall back, and the com- 
mand retired slowly and sullenly over the ground it had immor- 
talized. 

General Wilcox, who had failed to move far enough during 
Pickett's advance, now attempted to carry the heights, but his 
gallant and rash assault was repulsed. 

Of the five thousand men with which Pickett began his 
charge, nearly thirty-five hundred were killed, wounded, or in 
the hands of the enemy. Of his three brigade commanders, 
General Garnett was killed, General Armistead mortally 



GETTYSBURG. 403 

wounded, and General Kemper severely wounded and a pri- 
soner. Out of fourteen field officers, but one returned from 
the heights. The charge was fruitless, but the Federals pur- 
chased their success at a high price. Many valuable officers 
were killed or wounded. Generals Hancock and Gibbon being 
among the latter, and several thousand of their infantry were 
put hoys du combat. 

From his position on Seminary Ridge, General Lee had wit- 
nessed the charge. As he saw his men driven back from the 
heights, it is said that he placed his finger for a moment thought- 
fully between his lips, the only sign of perplexity he was ever 
known to exhibit. Then, realizing the importance of the occa- 
sion, he rode forward promptly among the broken troops to 
rally them. Calmly, as though far beyond the reach of danger, 
he spoke to them words of cheer and comfort. " Never mind," 
he said, as he urged them to re-form " We'll talk of this after- 
wards. Now we want all good men to rally. All this will 
come right in the end." His simple appeals were answered 
with enthusiasm. The men, even the wounded, returned to 
their places with cheers for their beloved commander, and a 
foreign officer, who was present as a spectator states that in this 
dark hour he heard nothing but admiration for Pickett's noble 
charge, and that the men assured him of their firm faith in Gen- 
eral Lee, in such homely phrases, as, " We've not lost confi- 
dence in the old man : this day's work won't do him no harm, 
* Uncle Robert ' will get us into Washington yet." * 

General Lee was fully alive to the extent of his disaster. 
To Colonel Freemantle of the English ai-my, he said, "This 
has been a sad day for us. Colonel, — a sad day ; but we can't 
expect always to gain victories." But he rose grandly above 
his disaster when, in reply to General Wilcox, who came to 

* Colcnel Freemantle's Diary, published in Blackwood's Magazine for Sep- 
tember 1863. 



404 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

report the failure of his attack, and who could hardly speak for 
emotion, when telling the sufferings of his men, he said quietly 
and cheerfully, "Never mind. General; all this has been my 
fault ; it is I that have lost this fight, and you must help me out 
of it in the best way you can." All the while his calmness and 
cheerfulness remained unshaken.* 

It was thought that the enemy might attempt to follow up 
Pickett's repulse by an advance upon Longstreet's line, and 
preparations were made to receive them. Everything was done 
promptly and rapidly ; "yet there was much less noise, fuss, 
or confusion of orders," says Colonel Freemantle, " than at 
any ordinary field-day." The enemy did not advance, how- 
ever. Many of the ablest officers of the Federal army were in 
favor of such a movement, but General Meade wisely decided 
not to risk the advantage he had gained, — wisely, because an 
advance upon his part woifld have been repulsed with heavy 
loss to him, inasmuch as Longstreet had two fresh divisions — 
McLaws' and Hood's — lying in readiness to meet him, together 
with a strong force of artillery. Indeed, General Longstreet 
was anxious that Meade should attack him.f The attack was 
not made, however, and the remainder of the day passed away 
in comparative quiet. 

During the night the corps of General Ewell was withdi'awn 
from the town and posted on Seminary Ridge, upon which the 
whole army proceeded to intrench itself. The next morning, 
July 4th, the enemy reoccupied the town. General Lee held 
his position during the day. Though no longer able to attack 
his adversary, he was perfectly willing to be assailed by him. 
General Meade remained quiet, however, and about noon Gen- 
eral Lee commenced to remove the arms from a portion of the 
field, and such of his wounded as could be transported. The 

* Colonel Freemantle's Narrative. 

t Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 364. 



THE RETREAT INTO VIRGINIA. 405 

wounded were placed in ambulances and wagons, and sent back 
to the Potomac under a strong escort, and the prisoners, four 
thousand in number, were also sent in that direction. 

It was now evident to General Lee that he could no longer 
hope for a successful issue to the campaign. The Federal army 
was too strong to be driven from its position, and it was not 
advisable to attempt to hold the country in its presence. The 
ammunition of the Southern army was almost exhausted, and 
it was difficult to procure provisions. These things made a 
withdrawal imperative, and that movement involved the terr 
mination of the invasion of the North. 

The losses in the battle of Gettysburg were heavy on both 
sides. On the side of the Confederates, they were over twenty 
thousand.* The Federals lost twenty-tliree thousand one hun- 
dred and ninety killed, wounded, and captured. 



V. 

THE EETEEAT INTO VIRGINIA. 

During the 4th of July General Lee held his position on 
Seminary Eidge, his line covering the Chambersburg and Fair- 
field roads. These highways lead westward from Gettysburg, 
and passing through the South Mountain range, enter the 
Cumberland Valley at a distance of seven miles from each 
other. During the night of the 4th, the Confederate army 
commenced to rctu'C by these roads, but its progress was so 

* General Meade reports the captures of prisoners by his army at thirteen 
thousand six hundred and twenty-one ; but it must be remembered that Gen- 
eral Lee left most of his wounded in the enemy's hands. He also detailed a 
hirge force of nurses to remain with his wounded. These were seized by the 
Federals and treated as prisoners of war. This accounts for the large num- 
ber of prisoners. 



406 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

much delayed by a severe storm that the rear-guard did not 
move from Gettysburg until the morning of the 5th. 

It was a difficult task that now presented itself to the Con- 
federate commander. His army was inferior in strength to 
that of the enemy, who had the advantage of railroad commu- 
nication from the Eastern States to the Upper Potomac, and 
might plant a force, independent of Meade's army, across his 
line of reti'cat. Besides this, he was burdened with four thou- 
sand prisoners, and a train fifteen miles long. He had a long 
march before him, audit was certain that General Meade, elated 
by his victory, would endeavor to cut hiui off from the Potomac. 
To conduct his army through all of its dangers, and place it 
safely in Virginia once more, was a task requiring not only 
great skill, but great moral courage. Fortunately the troops 
had not lost the slightest particle of their confidence in their 
great commander, and while he was at their head they were 
sure of coming safely, if not triumphantly, through any dan- 
ger, any trial. 

General Meade discovered General Lee's retreat on the morn- 
ing of the 5th of July, and at once sent Sedgwick's corps in 
pursuit along the Fairfield road, and dispatched his cavalry 
after the Confederates by the Harrisburg road. Sedgwick 
came up with the Confederate rear-guard late in the afternoon, 
at the point where the Fairfield road passes through the South 
Mountain. He found the Confederate position very strong, 
but his advance was cut short at this moment by an order from 
General Meade to return. Meade had decided to adopt the 
I'oute east of the mountains which was nearly twice the length 
of that by which Lee was retreating. With the hope of inter- 
cepting the Confederates, he ordered General French, who 
was at Frederick with the garrison of Harper's Ferry, to seize 
the lower passes of the South Mountain before Lee could oc- 
cupy them, and also to reoccupy Harper's Ferry. General 



THE RETREAT INTO VIRGINIA. 407 

French promptly executed these instructions, and also sent his 
cavalry to Falling Waters where they destroyed a Confederate 
ponton-bridge. General Meade followed cautiously with his 
army, which, durijig the march, was reenforccd by French's 
division and numerous other troops sent from Washington and 
Baltimore, making it fully as strong as it was before the battle 
of Gettysburg. By the tenth of July his army was at An- 
tietara Creek. 

Meanwhile General Lee had been marching rapidly to secure 
the crossings of the Potomac. A part of his train moved by 
the Fairfield road, and the rest through Cashtown, the whole 
in advance of the army, and guarded by General Imboden's 
command. The great length of tiie train in passing through 
the mountains exposed it to the Federal cavalry which had been 
sent into the Cumberland Valley, and as the wagons defiled 
from the passes, the Federals made a dash at them, capturing 
a number of wagons and ambulances before they could be 
driven off, but inflicting no serious injury upon the train, which 
reached the Potomac at Willianisport in safety. 

On the (3th, the enemy's cavalry made another attack on the 
trains, this time at Williamsport, and were repulsed by General 
Imboden's command. General Stuart, then coming up with his 
cavalry, drove them off in another attempt, and pursued them 
several miles in the direction of Boonsboro.* The Confederate 
force in these engagements was so small that the teamsters gal- 
lantly armed themselves and took part in the fight. 

The army followed slowly in the rear of the trains. The 
roads were in such bad condition that the advance did not reach 
Hagerstown until the afternoon of the 6th. The remainder of 
the troops arrived during the morning of the 7th. 

General Lee now found himself confronted by a new difficulty. 
The heavy rains had swollen the Potomac to such an extent 

* General Lee's Report. 



408 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

that it was no longer fordable, and the only ponton-bridge his 
army possessed had been desti-o^^ed by the enemy. The Fed- 
eral army was some distance behind, having in fact only reached 
Frederick, and had it been possible to cross the stream the Con- 
federates might have returned to Virginia unmolested. This 
being out of his power, there was nothing for General Lee to 
do but to await the return of the river to its usual condition. 
He accordingly selected a strong position, with his right resting 
on the Potomac at Falling Waters and his left at Hagerstown, 
this line giving him command of the crossings at Falling 
Waters and Williamsport. Earthworks were thrown up, and 
every precaution taken to resist the enemy should they attack 
upon their arrival. A part of the old ponton-bridge was recov- 
ered, and by great exertions a new bridge was constructed by 
the loth. 

From the 7th until the 13th, the army was in great danger. 
Its ammunition was almost exhausted, and the supplies collected 
in Pennsylvania were running low. It was cut off from the 
southern shore by the high water and the loss of the bridge, and 
it was found almost impossible to procure anything from the 
Virginia side, while the hioh water also flooded the mills and 
prevented them from being used. No reenforcements could be re- 
ceived, and it was known that Meade's army was approaching 
from Frederick. No one could tell when the water would fall. 
But for the rains the river might have been crossed while 
jNIeade's army was at Frederick ; now the passage would have 
to be made in the presence of the enemy's whole force. 

The Federal army appeared before the Confederate position 
on the 12th, but, contrary to General Lee's expectation, made 
no attack. No one doubted that General Meade, upon finding 
Lee in such a delicate situation, and with his own army so 
strongly reenforced, would at least endeavor to prevent the latter 
from crossing the river, if he did not attempt to destroy him. 



THE RETREAT INTO VIRGINIA. 409 

Meade, however, hesitated, and commenced to fortify his own 
line, intimidated by the natural and artificial strength of Lee's 
position. 

By mid-day on the 13th, the Potomac was found to be ford- 
able, although very deep, and the bridge being in readiness for 
the passage of the artillery and trains, General Lee ordered 
the withdrawal into Virginia to be commenced that night. 
Ewell's corps forded the river at Williamsport, while the corps 
of Long-street and Hill crossed on the bridge at Falling Waters. 
The roads were in a such a horrible state that the troops did not 
reach the bridge until after daylight on the morning of the 14th, 
and it was one o'clock in the afternoon before they were all over 
and the bridge removed. The enemy offered no material op- 
position, and the crossing was effected with complete success. 
Only a few disabled Avagons, and two guns which sank too deep 
into the mud to be dragged off by their horses, were left be- 
hind.* The guns could have been saved, had fresh hoi'ses been 
at hand, but before they could be procured the army passed by. 

The march to the river on the Maryland side was made in the 
midst of a drenching storm, and it was so slow and tedious that 
some of the men threw themselves down • by the roadside to 
rest. Overcome with fatigue many of them fell asleep, were 
missed in the darkness by the officers sent to collect them, and 
fell into the hands of the enemy. f These were the only pris- 
oners taken by General Meade, besides a few stragglers. 

* General Lee's Report. 

fThe assertion made by General Meade in a dispatch published soon after- 
wards as to the captures from the Confederate army, drew from General Lee 
the following letter, which sets the matter at rest. 

" HBADQUAKTEKS AKMT NOKXnERIf VmCINIA, 

July 21, 1803. 
•' GE:fEEAI. S. COOPER, AdJiUant and Inspector-Gtiitral, C. S. A., Richmond, To. 

" General: I have seen in Northern papers what purported to be an offi- 
cial dispatch from General Meade, stating that he had captured a brigade of 
infantry, two pieces of artillery, two caissons and a large number of small 
52 



410 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

The disappointment of the Northern Government and people 
was extreme when they learned that General Lee had succeeded 
in reaching Virginia. They were confident, up to the receipt 
of this intelligence, that Meade would destroy the Southern 
army. General Lee himself fully expected an attack, and was 
surprised to see Meade remain so quiet.* General Meade, 

arms, as this army retired to the south bank of the Potomac, on the 13lh and 
14th instants. 

" This dispatch has been copied into the Eichmond papers, and as its official 
cliaracter may cause it to be believed, I desire to state that it is incorrect. 
The enemy did not capture any organized body of men on that occasion, but 
only stragglers and such as were left asleep on the road, exhausted by the 
fatigue and exposure of one of the most inclement nights I have ever known 
at this season of tlie year. It rained without cessation, rendering the road by 
which our troops marched to the bridge at Falling Waters, very difficult to 
pass, and causing so much delay that the last of the troops did not cross the 
river at tlie bridge until 1 p. m., on the 14th. While the column was thus 
detained on tlie road, a number of men, worn down by fatigue, lay down in 
barns, and by the roadside, and though officers were sent back to arouse them, 
as the troops moved on, the darkness and rain prevented them from finding 
all, and many were in this way left behind. Two guns were left in the road. 
The liorses that drew them became exhausted, and the officers went forward 
to procure others. When they returned, the rear of the column had passed 
the guns so far that it was deemed unsafe to send back for them, and they 
Avere thus lost. No arms, cannon or prisoners were taken by tlie enemy in 
battle, but only such as were left behind under the circumstance I have 
described. The number of stragglers thus lost I am unable to state with 
accuracy, but it is greatly exaggerated in the dispatch referred to. ^ 
I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, 

R. E. Lee, General." 

* General Lee was so confident that Meade was approaching the Potomac 
for the purpose of attacking him, that the day before tlie arrival of the Federal 
army he issued the following order to his troops, his headquarters being then 
at Hagerstown : 

" Headquaeters Army Northern Virginia. 
July 11, 1863. 
"GENERAL ORDER, 
No. Ifi. 

"After the long and trying marches, endured with the fortitude that has 
ever characterized the soldiers of the Army of Northern Virginia, you have 



THE RETREAT INTO VIRGINIA. 411 

however, seems to have preferred to remain on the defensive 
which had served him so well at Gettysburg. 

On the 15th of July General Lee moved back from the Poto- 
mac to Bunker Hill, in the vicinity of Winchester. On the 17th 
a hirgc detachment of Federal cavalry, which had crossed the 
Potomac at Harper's Ferry, advanced to the neigliborhood of 
^Nlartinsburg. They were attacked by General Fitz Lee at 
Kearney sville, and driven back over the river with heavy loss. 

General Meade now determined to pursue the Confederate 
army, and attempt to cut it off from Richmond, or force it to a 
general eng-ao-ement before it could move east of the Blue 
Eidge. He crossed the Potomac at Harper's Ferry and Berlin 
on the 17th and 18th of July, and moving along the base of 
the mountains, endeavored to occupy the passes in advance of 
the Confederates. In this he was only partially successful ; 
for, as soon as he was informed of Meade's advance, General 
Lee commenced to retire up the Valley. His progress was 

penetrated to the country of our enemies, and recalled to the defences of their 
own soil tliose who were engaged in the invasion of ours. You have fought a 
fierce and sanguinaiy battle, which, if not attended with the success that has 
hitherto crowned your efforts, was marked by the same heroic spirit that has 
commanded the respect of your enemies, the gratitude of your country, and 
the admiration of mankind. 

" Once more you are called upon to meet the enemy from whom you have 
torn so many fields ; names that will never die. Once more the eyes of your 
countrymen are turned upon you, and again do wives and sisters, fathers and 
mothers, and helpless children lean for defence on your strong arms and 
brave hearts. Let every soldier remember that on his courage and fidelity, 
depends all that makes life worth having, the freedom of his country, the 
honor of his people, and the security of his home. Let each heart grow strong 
in the remembrance of our glorious past, and in the thought of the inestimable 
blessings for which we contend; and, invoking the assistance of that heavenly 
Power which has so signally blessed our former efforts, let us go forth in con- 
fidence to secure the peace and safety of our country. Soldiers, your old en- 
emy is before you. Win from him honor worthy of your right cause, worthy 
of your comrades dead on so many illustrious fields. 

R. E. Lee, General Commanding." 



412 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

much delayed by the high water in the Shenandoah River. 
General Longstreet was ordered to cross the mountains and oc- 
cupy Culpepper Court House, moving by way of Front Royal. 
He succeeded in crossing a part of his corps over the Shenan- 
doah, and as soon as a ponton-bridge could be laid, the rest 
of it followed, and, passing through Chester Gap, which they 
prevented the enemy from occupying, reached Culpepper on 
the 24th. Hill followed him, and Ewell, who brought up the 
rear, reached Front Royal on the 23d, and encamped near 
Madison Court House on the 29th.* During the march the 
enemy succeeded in passing a part of their army into the Val- 
ley, but they were held in check by the rear-guard until night- 
fall, and when they moved forward the next morning to bring 
on a battle, they found that General Lee had eluded them and 
placed his army beyond their reach. Baffled in his efforts, 
General I\Ieade made no further attempt to interfere with the 
Confederates, and the army reached the Rappahannock about 
the 1st of August. 

The failure of the Gettysburg campaign was a severe blow 
to the South, and made all the harder to bear by being coupled 
with the great disaster in the West, — the loss of Vicksburg 
and the Mississippi River. Any other commander would per- 
haps have been unable to retain the confidence of the people, 
who never trouble themselves to decide questions according to 
their real merits ; but in this case no one thought of assailing 
General Lee. The general feeling was, that if he had failed 
once, it was the will of Heaven and not his fault, and that he 
would yet win the independence of the South. Indeed so far 
from losing faith in him, the people of the South seemed to 
double their confidence in the wisdom and skill of the soldier, 
and their esteem and love for the man. 

Had the invasion of the North proved successful, there can 

j ♦ General Lee's Report. 



THE RETREAT INTO VIRGINIA. 413 

be little doubt that the Confederate Authorities would have pro- 
posed an honorable peace to the North, and there is as little 
room to doubt that the oifer would have been accepted. Fail- 
ing, however, in its efforts to win a speedy peace, the South- 
ern Government began to prepare for the long and bitter strug- 
gle which every one saw must follow. On the 15th of July, 
President Davis issued his proclamation calling into the military 
service all persons residing in the Confederacy, and not legally 
exempt, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years. 

The 21st of August was appointed by the President a day 
of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, and was faithfully observed 
in the army.* 

* General Lee's order requiring the observance of the day is as follows : 

" Headqcarters Abmy op Northern Virginia, 
August 13, 1863. 

GENERAL ORDEE, 
NO 83. 

The President of the Confederate States has, in the name of the people, 
appointed the 21st day of August as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer. 
A strict observance of the day is enjoined upon the officers and soldiers of 
this army. All military duties, except such as are absolutely necessary, will 
be suspended. The commanding officers of brigades and regiments are re- 
quested to cause Divine services, suitable to the occasion, to be performed in 
their respective commands. 

" Soldiers ! we have sinned against Almighty God. We have forgotten his 
signal mercies, and have cultivated a revengeful, haughty, and boastful spirit. 
We have not remembered that the defenders of a just cause should be pure in 
His eyes; that "our times are in His liands ;" — and we have relied too 
much on our own arms for the achievement of our independence. God is our 
only refuge and our strength. Let us humble ourselves before Him. Let us 
confess our many sins and beseech Him to give us a higher courage, a purer 
patriotism and more determined will ; that He will convert the hearts of our 
enemies ; that He will hasten the time when war, with its sorrows and suf- 
ferings, shall cease, and that He will give us a name and place among the 

nations of the earth. 

R. E. Lke, General." 



414 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 



IX. 

THE SECOND CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN 
VIRGINIA. 

August, 1863 — March, 1864. 



I. 
THE EXPEDITION TO MANASSAS. 

After retiring to Culpepper, General Lee, having no hope 
of being able to resume offensive operations during the remain- 
der of the fall, commenced to grant furloughs to his troops. 
The system he adopted was a liberal one, and was carried out 
as far as the necessities of the army would permit.* 

In September his army was reduced to a strict defensive by 
the withdrawal of General Longstreet's corps, which was sent 
to Tennessee to the assistance of the Western army, under 
General Bragg, then hard pressed by the army of General 
Rosecrans. The part borne by the veterans of the 1st corps in 
the Western campaign does not belong to this narration, and a 
recital of it must be sought elsewhere. I can only say that they 
were the immediate cause of the great victory at Chickamauga, 
and that during the unfortunate expedition to Knoxville, upon 
which they were sent by the folly of the President, they main- 
tained their high reputation for courage, fortitude, and effi- 
ciency, and failed only because it was not possible for such a 
force to accomplish the task assigned them. 

♦ See Note C at the end of the volume. 



THE EXPEDITION TO MANASSAS. 415 

General Meade, also, was greatly weakened by liis Gov- 
ernment. Soon after entering Northern Virginia, a large part 
of his army was taken from him and sent to South Carolina, 
and another strong detachment was sent to New York City 
to put down the resistance to the enforcement of the Federal 
draft, which ^ had seriously embarrassed the Government in 
its efforts to procure troops in that quai'ter. Still, when the 
Federal commander learned that Longstreet had been sent to 
Tennessee, he determined to secure the line of the Rappahan- 
nock. Accordingly, about the middle of September, he threw 
his cavalry across the Rappahannock, and General Lee, sup- 
posing that Meade was about to advance in force, retired to a 
stronger position behind the Rapidan. 

The new position of General Lee was one of great strength, 
and as a direct attack upon it promised nothing but failure. 
General JNIeade determined to attempt a flank movement 
against it ; but just as he was on the eve of putting his plan into 
execution, he received an order to send two of his corps iVarmee 
to Chattanooga, where General Grant had just assumed com- 
mand of the Federal army. Although this greatly reduced his 
strength, his army was still superior in numbers to that of Gen- 
eral Lee. 

The weakness of Meade's army was known to General Lee, 
and he resolved to strike a blow at his adversary, which should 
either seriously disable him, or keep him beyond the Rappahan- 
nock until the season for active operations was over. To 
accomplish this, he determined to move around Meade's right 
flank, and place his troops between the Federals and Washing- 
ton. 

On the 9th of October the army crossed the Rapidan, leaving 
Major-General Fitz Lee's cavalry division to guard the South- 
ern line on the Rapidan, and the division of General Hampton, 
under General Stuart'e own direction, moved on the right of 



416 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

the army. After crossing the river, General Lee marched 
towards Madison Com-t House, taking " circuitous and con- 
cealed roads " to avoid the risk of his movement being detected 
by the enemy. 

On the 10th of October General Stuart attacked the Federal 
outpost at James City, consisting of a detachragnt of Kilpat- 
rick's cavalry and an infantry force belonging to the 3d corps, 
and drove it back upon Culpepper Court House, where the main 
body of Lee's army was lying. This attack revealed to Gen- 
eral Meade the fi^ct that his right flank had been turned by 
General Lee, and he at once sent his trains across the Rappa- 
hannock, and followed them with his army between the night 
of the 10th and the morning of the 11th. Buford's division 
of cavalry crossed the Rapidan, and threatened the position 
lately held by the Southern army. Buford was met, however, 
by Fitz Lee's division, repulsed, and driven towards Brandy 
Station. 

Having turned Meade's right. General Lee followed Stuart's 
attack on the outposts by an advance of his whole army towards 
Culpepper Court House, which he reached on the morning of 
the 11th, only to find that General Meade had retreated across 
the Rappahannock, and had blown up the railroad-bridge after 
him. The army remained near the Court House during the rest 
of the day, and General Fitz Lee's division rejoined General 
Stuart. In the afternoon Stuart encountered the Federal cav- 
alry near Brandy Station, and drove them across the river, 
after a severe engagement in which he inflicted a heavy loss 
upon them. 

On the morning of the 12th, the army moved forward again 
for the purpose of ' ' reaching the Orange and Alexandria Rail- 
road north of the river, and interrupting the retreat of the 
enemy." * A force of Federal cavalry was encountered and 

* General Lee's Keport. 



THE EXPEDITION TO MANASSAS. 417 

quickly repulsed at JefFersonton, and in the afternoon the Rap- 
pahannock was reached opposite Warrenton Springs. The 
enemy held the north bank with cavalry and artillery, but were 
speedily driven away by Stuart's cavalry and a battery of artil- 
lery, and the passage of the stream effected. General Stuart 
at once pushed-on to Warrenton, clearing the road of the enemy, 
and on the loth the army was concentrated at Warrenton. 

It was known to General Lee that the Federal army was on 
the north side of the Rappahannock, and it was believed that 
Meade had halted between Warrenton Junction and Catlett's 
Station on the railroad, and to gain more accurate information 
General Stuart was dispatched with two thousand cavalry upon 
a reconnoissance in the direction of Catlett's. 

Meanwhile, General Meade, who had come to the conclusion 
that his retreat across the Rapidan was too hasty, was moving 
back towards Culpepper to meet General Lee. He had begun 
his movement on the afternoon of the 12th, and thus it hap- 
pened, strangely enough, that while Lee was hastening to get 
between Meade and Washington, moving by a circuitous route, 
Meade was marching back to offer battle to him. Meade carried 
with him the 2nd, 5th, and 6th corps of his army, and Buford's 
cavalry, leaving the 3rd corps and Gregg's cavalry to guard the 
crossings of the Rappahannock at Freeman's Ford, and W^ar- 
renton Springs. The cavalry, under Gregg, as the reader will 
remember, were driven off on the afternoon of the 12th. This 
was at once reported to General Meade, and by revealing to 
him the true purpose of his antagonist, showed him in what 
danger his false move had placed his army. He at once en- 
deavored to repair his error by an immediate recall of his forces 
en route for Culpepper Court House, and by the morning of the 
13th his army was again on the north side of the Rappahan- 
nock.* The unexpected movement of General Lee had, how- 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, pp. 378, 379. 
53 



418 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

ever, thrown General French's corps out of position, and the 
Federal commander was forced to pause until it could be brought 
up. For this purpose he ordered General Warren, with the 
2nd corps, to halt until French could be brought into his proper 
place, and to cover the retreat " of the army with his own corps, 
moving through Fayetteville and Auburn to Catlett's Station, 
after which he was to follow the line of the railroad northward." 
These columns were in motion when General Stuart com- 
menced his reconnoissance to Catlett's Station. Upon reaching 
that place on the loth, he discovered General French's column 
retiring from the river, and at once fell back towards AVarren- 
ton, but upon entering the road leading from Warrenton to 
Manassas, unexpectedly found his progress barred by the corps 
of General Warren, and to his surprise discovered that he was 
hemmed in between the Federal columns and in great danger of 
being captured or cut to pieces. 

The situation of the cavalry was critical indeed. They were 
concealed in a strip of woods to which General Stuart had re- 
tired as soon as he discovered his danger, but they were so near 
the enemv that the sliohtest sound — the neij^hing of a horse, 
or the clanking of a sabre might betray them. General Stuart 
at once called a council of his officers to decide upon their 
course, giving them to understand in the fii'st place that he 
would entertain no proposition looking to a surrender. The 
result of the deliberations was, that the best thing to do was to 
abandon the nine pieces of horse artillery brought with the 
column, and try to cut their way out under the cover of the 
darkness. Upon further reflection General Stuart resolved to 
save his artillery, and determined to inform General Lee of his 
situation. Dismounting several of his men, he ordered them to 
take muskets and put on infantry knapsacks, trusting to the 
darkness to conceal the color of their uniforms, and make their 
way through the Federal lines to Warrenton, inform General Lee 



THE EXPEDITION TO MANASSAS. 419 

that he was surrounded, and ask him to "send some of his 
people to help him out." Three of these messengers reached 
Warrenton in safety, and delivered the message, whereupon 
General Lee immediately set out to help Stuart out of his 
" scrape." 

The plan which General Lee had adopted, after crossing the 
Rappahannock, was to move from Warrenton in two columns, 
his left, under Hill, along the turnpike to New Baltimore, where 
it was to wheel to tlie right, and march direct to Bristoe Station 
on the railroad, and the right under Ewell, along the road lead- 
ing through Greenwich and Auburn, to Bristoe Station, where 
it was to unite with Hill. In this manner General Lee hoped 
to seize the railroad before JMeade could arrive, and cut him off 
from Washington. 

Meanwhile the cavalry passed the night in the greatest anx- 
iety. The last division of the enemy bivouacked within one 
hundred and fifty yards of the Southern pickets, so close that 
the conversations of the Union troops could be almost dis- 
tinsruished, and durino; the night two officers of General Meade's 
staff strayed in among the cavalry and were captured. The 
men hardly dared to breathe, and no one was allowed to smoke 
or speak above a whisper, lest the faintest glimmer of a light or 
the merest sound should betray them. 

At daybreak on the morning of the 14th, Caldwell's division, 
which General Warren had posted on the heights of Cedar Run 
to protect his rear against any sudden dash of Lee's troops, lit 
their camp fires to cook breakfast. From their place of conceal- 
ment Stuart's men could see them, themselves sheltered from 
observation. While the enemy were thus engaged, they were 
surprised by a sharp fire of musketry from the advance of General 
Swell's column, moving along the Warrenton i-oad. Assured 
by this that General Lee was moving to his assistance, General 
Stuart promptly opened on the Federal line with his artillery. 



420 LIFE or GENERAL LEE. 

throwing it into great confusion by the suddenness of his attack, 
a»s well as by the accuracy of his fire.* Then suddenly limber- 
ino- up his guns, Stuart set off through the enemy's line, and 
joined General Ewell. 

General Warren, supposing that he was surrounded, made his 
dispositions to extricate his corps. This was easily done, as but 
the advance of Evvell's column had come up, and Stuart had 
withdrawn, only too glad to get away in safety, but when Ewell 
did arrive with his main body, Warren was not able to hold him 
in check, but was forced back until Cedar Run was crossed by 
the Federals. f Then Ewell made no effort to pursue, as his 
route led him more to the left, he having been directed to move 
through Greenwich on his way to join General Hill. 

During the 14th, JNleade hurried on towards Centreville, 
where he had resolved to give battle, and from which point, if 
defeated, he could retire into the lines of Washington. Having 
the interior and shorter line, he was able to distance the Con- 
federates in the march, and his main army had passed Bristoe 
Station when General Hill, with two of his brigades arrived 
there. The Federal rear-guard reached Bristoe just as Hill 
came up, and General Warren, who knew the ground thor- 
ouohly, posted his men along the railroad, a part of his line 
beino" protected by a deep cut in the road, and the rest by the 
embankment. Hill at once attacked him, but his two brigades 
were repulsed with heavy loss. Four hundred and fifty pris- 
oners, five pieces of artillery, and two standards, were captured 
by the enemy. ^ During the night General Warren withdrew 
his corps, and rejoined General Meade at Centreville. 

The effort to cut Meade off from Washington had failed, and 
it was useless to attack him in his works at Centreville, which 
strono- position was impregnable to the force General Lee had 

* Mr. Swinton states that seven men were killed by one of Stuart's s'lella. 
f General Lee's Eeport. | General Lee's Report. 



THE EXPEDITION TO MANASSAS. 421 

at his command. Any effort against either of his flanks would 
merely result in the withdrawal of the Federal commander into 
the lines of Washington without conferring any benefit upon the 
Confederates, and there remained to General Lee nothing but 
to fall back to the Rajipahannock as soon as possible. Resolv- 
ing, however, to impede Meade's return to Culpepper as much 
as possible, General Lee ordered the destructidn of the railroad 
from Cub Run to the Rappahannock. Tiiis being accomplished, 
the army on the 18th began to retire to the line of that river.* 

The withdrawal of the army was covered by Stuart's cavalry. 
On the 19th, the Federal cavalry, which had been sent out in 
pursuit, arrived in Stuart's front. Stuart was at this time 
at Buckland with Hampton's division. After a sharp skir- 
mish with the enemy he fell back slowly towards Warrenton, 
in order to draw them after him, and thus afford General FItz 
Lee, who was moving by the Auburn road with his division, an 
opportunity to attack them in flank and rear. The ruse was 
successful. When within about four miles of Warrenton, Fitz 
Lee struck the Federal column, and at the same time Stuart, 
hearing the sound of Lee's guns, turned about and attacked the 
enemy in front. After a stubborn fight they broke and fled in 
confusion, pursued by Stuart to the vicinity of Haymarket, and 
by General Fitz Lee to Gainesville. Here the Federal infantry 
came up to the support of their cavalry, and Stuart, after inflict- 
ing some loss upon them, and taking some prisoners, fell back 
slowly towards Buckland. As Meade continued to advance, 
the cavalry retired towards the Rappahannock, skirmishing with 
the Federal horse in the advance all the way. 

When General Lee set out on this expedition, he directed 
General Imboden, who was operating in the Valley Avith his 
command, to move towards the Potomac, and guard the gaps 
in the Blue Ridge, on Lee's left. This duty was admirably 

* General Lee's Eeport. 



422 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

performed, and while lying at Berry ville, after General Lee 
began to withdraw from the neighborhood of Manassas, General 
Imboden determined to make a dash at the garrison of Charles- 
town and capture it. 

Accordingly, he left Berryvllle on the 18th, and reached 
Charlestown in a few hours, the Federals having no suspicion 
of his approach until the town was surrounded. The garripon 
I'etreated to the Court House yard, which they had fortified, 
refusing to comply with Imboden's summons to surrender. An 
attack was then made by the Confederates, resulting in the sur- 
render of the entire garrison, with the exception of the Colonel, 
Lieutenant-Colonel, and five others, who fled at the first fire,* 
and succeeded in reaching Harper's Ferry where they gave the 
alarm. Imboden captured four hundred and thirty-four (ofiS- 
cers and men) prisoners, with their arms, stores, wagons, and 
horses. The garrison at Harper's Ferry, having heard the fir- 
ing, moved rapidly toward Charlestown, which they reached in 
two hoyrs after Imboden had fired the first gun. Being too 
weak to make a stand against the enemy, General Imbod'On re- 
tired up the Valley. 

General Lee's loss in the expedition was about one thousand 
four hundred men killed, wounded, and missing, and five guns 
captured. The enemy's loss in killed and wounded is not 
known to me. Including the prisoners taken by Imboden, the 
army captured from the enemy two thousand four hundred and 
thirty-six men, forty-one of. whom were commissioned ofl&cers. 

After retiring to the Rappahannock, General Lee disposed 
his army on the south bank of the river, on both sides of the 
railroad, Ewell on the right and Hill on the left, with the cav- 
alry thrown out on each flank. The main body of the army 
was some distance back from the river, but outposts we^e es- 
lublished at the railroad bridge and Kelley's Ford. 

* General Imboden's Report. 



THE EXPEDITION TO MANASSAS. 423 

Meade's advance was delayed until the restoration of the 
railroad was completed, but that work being pushed forward 
energetically, he arrived at the Rappahannock on the 7th of 
November, intending to force the passage of the stream. His 
army was divided into two columns, — the left, under General 
French, consisting of the 1st, 2d, and od corps, and the right, 
under General Sedgwick, consisting of the 5th and 6th corps. 
French was directed to cross the river at Kelley's Ford, and 
Sedgwick at Rappahannock Station, or the railroad bridge. 

Kelley's Ford was guarded only by Rodes' division of E well's 
corps, and French had no trouble in pressing back this small 
force and securing the passage of the river. Johnson's division 
was immediately advanced to Rodes' assistance, and Early's 
division moved forward to resist the attempt of the enemy to 
cross at the railroad bridge. 

Arriving there, General Early threw Hoke's and Hays' 
brigades, about two thousand strong, over to the north bank, 
and posted them in strong works, which had been built some 
time before to defend the passage of the river. The gi'ound in 
front of the works was such that the enemy could not attack 
with a front more extended than that of the Confederates, and 
it was believed that a successful resistance could be made, or, 
that if forced to withdraw, the troops could be recrossed under 
the fire of the guns on the south bank. 

Sedgwick's column reached the river late in the afternoon, 
and at once prepared to storm the Confederate works and cap- 
ture the little force which had been so foolishly exposed to them. 
Just before dark Russell's and Upton's brigades of the 6th 
corps, made a charge, and the works were carried by nightfall. 
Out of the two thousand men of Hays' and Hoke's brigades, 
fifteen hundred were captured, and about one hundred killed 
and wounded. Those who escaped only reached the south 
bank by swimming the river. Four guns also fell into the 
hands of the enemy. 



424 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

As if satisfied with this success, the Federals paused, am 
General Lee, not wishing to be drawn into a general battle, 
retired behind the Rapidan, and Meade resumed the position he 
had held before his retreat to Centreville. 

When General Lee fell back from Bristoe Station, he hoped 
to be able to advance again if Meade remained at Centreville. 
On tlie 19th of October he wrote to the War Department that 
if Meade remained behind Bull Kun, and he could procure 
quartermaster supplies for his army, he would move forward 
again. In the condition of his army at that time, any move- 
ment was difficult, for, as he declared in this letter, thousands 
of his men were barefooted, and without overcoats, blankets, 
and many other needed articles, and the weather was very cold. 
The advance of General Meade across the Rappahannock, how- 
ever, decided General Lee to go into wanter quarters on the 
Rapidan. 



! LI- 

MINE RUN. 

After retiring behind the Rapidan, General Lee put his army 
into winter quarters. His position, naturally very strong, had 
been carefully fortified at various times, and trusting to its pro- 
tection, he disposed his forces in such localities as would best 
afford them wood and other necessities. The ricjlit win^ rested 
on the Rapidan at Morton's Ford, and the left was jDOsted in 
strong intrenchments along the left bank of Mine Run, a small 
stream running at right angles to and emptying into the Rap- 
idan. Under the cover of this line, the troops were scattered 
over a large extent of country, Hill's cantonments stretching 
almost to Charlottesville, and the artillery being as far back as 



MINE RUN. 425 

Frederick's Hall — but in such a manner as to be easily con- 
centrated upon the approach of the enemy. 

Trustinsr that the strengrth of the fortifications on the left 
would secure the safety of that wing, General Lee left the 
lower fords of the Rapidan — Ely's, Culpepper Mine, Ger- 
manna, and Jacobs' Mill — uncovered. 

Upon learning this, General Meade resolved to make another 
effort to destroy the Confederate army before the season became 
too far advanced for active operations. His hope was, by 
crossing the Rapidan at the lower fords, to throw his army 
between the corps of Generals Ewell and Hill, and crush them 
in detail. For this purpose he supplied his troops with ten 
days' rations, relying on his success to open new routes for 
bringing up his supplies. His army was to move as follows : 
"The 1st corps was to cross the Rapidan at Culpepper Mine 
Ford, and proceed to Parker's Store on the plank road to 
Orange Court House. The 2d corps was to cross at Germanna 
Ford, and proceed out on the turnpike (which runs parallel 
with the plank road) to Robertson's Tavern. To this point also 
the 3d corps, crossing at Jacobs' Mill Ford, and followed by 
the 6th corps, was to march by other routes, and there to form 
a junction with the 2d corps. With the left thus at Parker's 
Store and the right at Robertson's Tavern, the army would be 
in close communication on parallel roads, and by advancing 
westward towards Orange Court House, would turn the line 
of Mine Run defences, which it was known did not extend as 
far south as to cross the turnpike and plank roads." * 

The movement Avas to begin at dawn on the 26th of Novem- 
ber, and as the distance from the point of starting to the point 
of concentration was a little less than twenty miles, General 
Meade hoped to have his army in position by noon of the 27th. 
The Federal columns moved off promptly on the morning^f 

♦Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, pp. 391, 392. 
5i 



426 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

the 26tli, but owing to some delays in the march of the troop?*, 
and the difficulty of bridging the river, the Rapidan was net 
passed until the morning of the 27th. Early on the 27th the 
march was resumed, and General Meade issued imperative 
orders to push on with tlie utmost speed, and to try to make up 
as far as possible the time that had been lost. 

Meanwhile General Lee was not idle. Meade had scarcely 
begun his movement before it was knov/n to the Confederate 
commander. As early as the morning of the 25th,* it was 
known that something unusual was going on in tlie Federal 
lines, and the crossings of the river were closely w^atched. It 
was ascertained on the morning of the 26th, that the enemy 
desio-ned crossins: in force at the lower fords, and it was believed 
that General Meade would attempt to move towards Chancel- 
lorsville, for the purpose of gaining Lee's rear.j E well's 

* Letter in the Richmond Dispatch of Xovemher 30, 1863. 

t It has been said that but for the delays to which Meade was put he would 
have succeeded in concentrating his army on Lee's left before the latter could 
have learned his purpose. The following order shows that General Lee was 
early on the watch, and prepared to meet him. 

"Headquarters Army Northern Virginia, 
November 26, 1863. 

"GENERAL ORDEK, 
No. 102. 

"The enemy is again advancing upon our Capital, and the country once 
more looks to this army for its protection. Under the blessings of God your 
valor has repelled every previous attempt, and invoking the continuance of 
His favor, we cheerfully commit to Him the issue of the coming conflict. 

" A cruel enemy seeks to reduce our fathers and our mothers, our wives, 
and our children, to abject slavery; to strip them of their property and drive 
them from their homes. Upon you these helpless ones rely to avert these 
terrible calamities, and secure to them the blessing of liberty and safety. 
Your past history gives them the assurance that their trust will not be in vain. 
Let every man remember that all he holds dear depends upon the faithful dis- 
charge of his duty, and resolve to fight and, if need be, to die, in defence of a 
cause so sacred and worthy the name won b}"^ this army on so many bloody 
fields. 

(Signed,) R. E. Lee, General." 



\ 

MINE RUN. 427 

corps, which was lying around Orange Court House, w^as held 
in readiness to advance as soon as the plan of the Federals 
should be disclosed. Early on Friday morning, the 27th, it 
was ascertained that the enemy were moving towards Mine 
Run, and Ewell's corps was at once thrown forward to meet 
them, and hold them in check until Hill's corps, which was on 
the march, could arrive. Evvell moved rapidly, and learning 
of Warren's march by the Old Turnpike, formed his line near 
to Robertson's Tavern. About one o'clock, the 2d corps of the 
Federal army arrived in his front, and some sharp skirmishing 
ensued, but, as General Warren was ordered to refrain from 
attacking until the arrival of the corps of General French, 
nothing further occurred. General French, however, had taken 
the wrong road, after crossing at Jacobs' Mill Ford, and mov- 
ing by a road too much to the right, came unexpectedly upon 
Johnson's division which formed the left of Ewell's line. John- 
son at once attacked him, and a severe fight ensued, which 
lasted until late in the afternoon, and in which General French 
was very roughly handled. Discovering his blunder, French 
endeavored to extricate himself from his false position, and 
open communication with Warren at Robertson's Tavern, but 
before he could accomplish these objects night put an end to all 
hostile operations. 

During the night, Hill's corps having arrived, General Lee 
withdrew Evvell to the west side of Mine Run, and proceeded 
to fortify the position he had chosen, and which extended 
across both the Old Turnpike and the Orange plank road. 
This position was very formidable. The Southern line was 
drawn along a commandini^ range of heio;hts about seven or 
eisrht miles in length and running north and south, folio wino; 
the course of Mine Run, which flowed at their base. The 
range was in itself a strong position, being, by a singular freak 
of nature „ formed after the most approved principles of fortifi- 



428 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

cation, consisting, in short, of "four or five well-defined 
facings of unequal length, occupying a space of more than three 
thousand yards," with such angles of defence that the troopa 
manning the line were able to enfilade every avenue of ap- 
proach, while both flanks were so strongly posted as to defy 
almost any effort to turn them.* The country in the rear and 
on the flanks of this line was densely wooded, and the ap- 
proaches in front were rendered difficult by the marshy ground 
covered with thick undergrowth that bordered Mine Run, which 
flowed along the entire front at a distance of twelve hundred 
yards from it. General Lee commenced the construction of 
earthworks on the heights during the night, and felled the tim- 
ber in his front. 

On the morning of the 28th, General Meade found that Ewell 
had abandoned his advanced position, but, upon pressing 
forward for a couple of miles, found his progress suddenly 
checked by the strong line held by the Confederate Army on 
Mine Run. Pie at once brought up his troops, and determined 
to attack the Confederates. He spent the day in reoonnoi- 
tering Lee's works for the purpose of ascertaining the most 
favorable point for his attack. The result of these reconnoi- 
sances was tlie following plan of operations : General Warren, 
with about twenty-six thousand men, was to attempt to turn 
the Confederate right, while Sedgwick, with the 5th and 
6th corps, would endeavor to turn the left. French, with 
three divisions, was to hold the line between Sedgwick and 
"Warren, but not to engage in the attack. The 29th was 
spent in making the necessary dispositions, and it was ordered 
that Warren should commence the attack at eight o'clock, to 
be followed by Sedgwick at nine o'clock, on the morning of 
the 30th. 

Meanwhile General Lee awaited the opening of the battle, 

* Campaigns of the Array of the Potomac, p. 39-1. 



MINE RUN. 429 

fully confident of lils ability to maintain his position. At nine 
o'clock on the morning of the 30th of November, General 
Sedgwick opened his artillery on the Confederate position, fol- 
lowed by tlie batteries of General French. General Warren, 
however, remained quiet. Upon forming his line for an attack, 
he discovered that the Confederate position was impregnable, 
having been greatly strengthened on the right since the 28th. 
He therefore declined to attack, gallantly preferring " to sacri- 
fice himself rather than his command."* General Meade 
innnediately repaired to Warren's line, and was satisfied that the 
opinion of his lieutenant was correct, and at once abandoned 
the attack as hopeless. 

The demonstration made by General Sedgwick was so slight 
that General Lee was under the impression that Meade was not 
yet ready to attack, f The opportunity of the Federal com- 
mander had passed, however. Still, as he was between Lee 
and Fredericksburg, he might have drawn the Southern army 
from its position by threatening its communications with Rich- 
mond. But his trains were beyond the Eapidan, and the 
rations brought with his troops running low. Above all, the 
season was so far advanced that in a few days the winter would 
render it dangerous to move his army on Vii'ginia soil unless he 
wished to share the fate of Burnside in his "mud march." 
Therefore, having been baffled by General Lee in his original 
design, there remained for him nothing but to withdraw to his 
old position north of the Rapidan, which he did on the night of 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 397. 
t TMs will be seen from the following dispatch : — 

" HEADQUAETERS ABlfY NOETHERN ViRGIIfIA, VIA OeANGE COURT HOUSE, 

December 1, 18(53. 
"To GekEBAL S. Coopee: 

" The enemy opened their batteries on our lines yesterday. Some skir- 
mishing took place, but no attack. 

" (Signed) R. E. Lee, General." 



430 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

the 1st of December. His retreat was discovered the follow- 
ing morning, and pursuit made, but he recrossed the Rapidan 
before Lee reached it.* 

This was the last effort of the enemy during the year, and 
the army settled down into the monotony of the long winter. 



TIL 
WINTER QUARTERS. 

The folly of the Southern Government in refusing to enlist 
troops for the war at the beginning of the struggle, was the 
cause of many sore evils to the Confederacy. During the first 
months of hostilities, before the enthusiasm of the people had 
subsided, the troops would have enlisted for any period, how- 
ever long ; but the Government, or rather the President, was 
so strongly convinced that the North would be forced to make 
peace in a few months, that no troops were received for a longer 
period than twelve months. As is the case in all wars, the 
first year dampened the enthusiasm of the people, and the 
enlistments ceased. This forced upon the Government the 
necessity of adopting the conscription. It was a sad necessity, 
but the course of the Government left no alternative. 

It was believed that the conscription, as at first enforced, 

* Mr. Swinton says, " Lee did not follow up in the least." — Campaigns of 
the Army of the Fotomac, p. 398. The following bulletin tells a different tale : 

" Headquaiiteks Army of Noethern Vieoisu, 
December 2,1863. 
"To Genekal S. Cooper: 

"The enemy retreated during the night. Pursuit was made this morning, 
but he had recrossed the Kapidan before we reached it. A few prisoners 
were captured. 

" (Signed) R. E. Lee, General." 



WINTER QUARTERS. 431 

would yield eight hundred thousand recruits for the armies, and 
when the conscript age Avas extended to forty-five years, it was 
said that seventy thousand more would be secured. These 
expectations were not realized, and by the end of the year 1863, 
the records of the Adjutant-General showed that but a little 
more than four hundred thousand men had been mustered into 
tlie service, and the Confederate Secretary of \Var, Mr. Sed- 
don, stated that " not more than a half, never two third.s, of 
the soldiers were in the ranks." The number already in the 
service was greatly reduced by desertions. The officers of the 
army made every exertion to ch»ck the evil. Many deserters 
were captured, tried, and condemned to death, but the Pres- 
ident, with a mistaken and culpable leniency, rarely allowed 
the sentences to be executed. The commanders of armies 
urged him to withhold his clemency ; that executions of desert- 
ers were absolutely necessary to put a stop to desertion. In 
vain, however, for the President having once decided upon a 
course never departed from it. 

One great cause of the frequency of desertion was the terri- 
ble suffering endured by the men. The troops had not clothing 
enough to protect them from the weather, and in many instances 
not food enough to enable them to withstand the cold, and very 
many had to decide between a horrible and lingering death and 
desertion. It is not to be wondered at that they chose the 
latter. 

The mismanagement of the Confederate Commissariat was 
shocking. This had gone so far that when the Army of 
Northern Virginia went into winter quarters in 1863, the regular 
meat ration was only four ounces of fat pork whicli could only 
be eaten by melting it and using it on bread as a substitute for 
butter. The bread ration was mostly corn meal — rarely flour, 
and even this scanty fare was often withheld to such a degree 
that the men were half-starved. The horses attached to the 



432 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

army also suffered greatly, about one thousand bushels of corn 
per day being all that was allowed the whole army, besides a 
scanty supply of long forage. 

Matters were very bad by the close of the year. On the 2nd 
of January General Lee wrote to the President that he had but 
one day's meat rations, and feared he would not be able to keep 
the troops in the field.* On the 22nd of January he wrote to 
the Secretary of War that his army was not fed well enough to 
fit the troops for the exertions of the Spring campaign. He 
urged the discontinuance of the rule adopted by the Commissary- 
General allowing officers at Richmond and Petersburg and many 
other towns to purchase Government meat and supplies for 
their families at schedule prices. He said the salaries of these 
oflficers ought to be sufficient compensation for their services ; 
that such allowances deprived the officers and soldiers in the 
field of necessary subsistence ; it oflTended the people who paid 
the tithes to see them going to feed non-combatants instead of 
men in front of the enemy ; and it demoralized the officers and 
soldiers in the field. 

This system, in fact, allowed men who were safely housed, and 
at least provided with means of resisting the elements, to live 
as comfortably as the money at their command would permit, 

* The President referred this letter to the Commissary-General, and urged 
him to take the necessary steps to remedy the evil. The only notice Col- 
onel Northrop deigned to take of tliis important communication, was to 
prepare a tabular statement of his letters to General Lee, in order to show that 
he ( the Com. Gen. ) had predicted such a state of affairs. Only a few days 
afterwards, Colonel Northrop was informed that there were several millions 
of pounds of bacon in an exposed situation in North Carolina, which the 
people would sell, if he would send for it, but which they could not bring 
out themselves for fear of the vengeance of the enemy. Northrop made no 
attempt to procure this bacon. At the same time he had sixty-tliousand 
pounds stored in one of his depots on the Northern Neck of Va. He neg- 
lected to bring it up to feed Lee's army, and the enemy burned it. 



WINTER QUARTERS. 433 

and kept the men in the field half starved. General Lee's let- 
ter was, under the red tape system, sent to the Commissary- 
General, who returned it after some delay, stating that General 
Lee was wrong, that the practice was necessary. Mr. Seddon, 
the Secretary of War issued a peremptory order restricting the 
city officers in the item of meat, but the Commissary-General 
recommended the suspension of the order until it could be seen 
what Congress would do. Of course the order was suspended. 

On the 29th of February General Lee's Chief Commissary 
telegraphed Colonel Northrop that the army had bread for but 
one day, and that meat was getting scarce again. Colonel 
Northrop again took occasion to make an official declaration 
that he had predicted such a crisis. The matter was but im- 
perfectly attended to, for on the 12th of March Lieutenant Col- 
onel Cole again telegraphed, stating that the army was out of 
meat and had but one day's rations of bread, and again Col- 
onel Northrop endorsed his prediction of a famine. His own 
incompetency had brought about the unhappy state of affiiirs, 
but he endeavored to shift the responsibility upon General Lee, 
because the Confederate commander did not, in addition to his 
duties in the field, attend to matters strictly belonging to the 
Commissariat. He even urged General Lee to impress the 
supplies needed for his army — a duty which Northrop's own 
agents should have attended to. 

The troops had not been fed or clothed properly since their 
return from Pennsylvania, and their sufferings would have been 
too great to have been borne but for the relief contributed by 
their friends and relatives. In this sad hour of suffering, when 
the fortitude of the army was so sorely tried, General Lee 
made a stirring appeal to the men to stand by their colors. 
The appeal was made in the following order : 
55 



434 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

" HEAIMltJARTEKS AkMY of NORTHERN VIRGINIA. 

January 22, 1864. 

*' GENERAL d-RDER, 

No. 7. 

" The Commanding General considers it due to the army to 
state that the temporary reduction of rations has been caused by 
circumstances beyond the control of those charged with its sup- 
port. Its welfare and comfort are the objects of his constant 
and earnest solicitude ; and no effort has been spared to provide 
for its wants. It is hoped that the exertions now being made 
will render the necessity of short duration : but the history of 
the army has shown that the country can require no sacrifice 
too great for its patriotic devotion. 

" Soldiers ! you tread, with no unequal steps, the road by 
which your fathers marched through suffering, privation, and 
blood to independence ! 

" Continue to emulate in the future, as you have in the past, 
their valor in arms, their patient endurance of hardships, their 
high resolve to be free, which no trial could shake, no bribe 
seduce, no danger appall : and be assured that the just God, 
who crowned their efforts with success, will, in His own good 
time, send down His blessing upon yours. 

(Signed) R. E. Lee, General.'' 

It must not be supposed that General Lee fared better than 
his men. He cheerfully shared their hardships, and set them 
an example by the patience and fortitude with which he bore 
his privations. I find the following pleasant description of his 
fare in one of the daily newspapers of the time : 

" In General Lee's tent meat is eaten but twice a week, the 
General not allowing it oftener, because he believes indulgence 
in meat to be criminal in the present straitened condition of 
the country. His ordinary dinner consists of a head of cabbage, 
boiled in salt watei', and a pone of corn bread. In this con- 



WINTER QUARTERS. 435 

nection rather a comic story is told. Having invited a number 
of gentlemen to dine with him, General Lee in a fit of extrava- 
gance, ordered a sumptuous repast of cabbage and middling. 
The dinner was served : and, behold, a great pile of cabbage 
and a bit of middling about four inches long and two inches 
across ! The guests, with commendable politeness, unanimous- 
ly declined middling, and it remained in the dish untouched. 
The next day General Lee, remembering the delicate tit-bit 
which had been so providentially preserved, ordered his servant 
to bring < that middling.' The man hesitated, scratched his 
head, and finally owned up : ' De fac' is, Marse Robert, dat ar 
middlin' was borrowed middlin : we all didn't had nar a spec ; 
an' I done paid it back to de man whar I got it from.' Gen- 
eral Lee heaved a sigh of the deepest disappointment, and 
pitched into his cabbage." 

I know it will be said, as it has been said before, that it was 
not in the power of the Government to procure a sufficient sup- 
ply of provisions for the army. This I grant, for the Commis- 
sariat had been so mismanaged by Colonel Northrop and the 
President, that when the year 1864 opened there was great 
danger that the cause would fail for want of food for the army. 
I say the Commissariat was mismanaged by these officials, and 
I ask the reader's attention to a few facts in support of this as- 
sertion. 

In the article of meat the South was never able to provide for 
its armies upon a scale sufficient to keep them from suffisring, 
merely by collecting its own supplies. In January 1862, it was 
officially stated in a report presented to the Confederate Congress 
that less than twenty thousand hogs, out of the whole number 
packed in the Union in 1860-61, were put up in what was 
afterwards Confederate territory, and that about one million two 
hundred thousand hogs were imported into the South before the 
war, after being packed. Out of this number the Confederate 



436 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

armies consumed during the first year of the war about three 
hundred thousand hogs. The only country from which pork 
could be directly obtained after the commencement of hostilities, 
was the State of Tennessee and a part of Kentucky. Hog 
cholera and bad crops reduced the productions of these States from 
two hundred thousand to less than twenty thousand head during 
the year 1861. This, as early as the commencement of 1862, 
was the principal and almost the only source oj)en to the Gov- 
ernment, and was at the same time heavily taxed by the demands 
of private purchasers. Within a few weeks after the presenta- 
tion of this report, Kentucky was lost to the South, and the 
source of supply still more reduced. 

Thus it will be seen that as early as the close of 1861, it was 
shown to the Government that it would be compelled to buy 
meat for the army outside of the limits of the South, or starve 
the troops. The currency of the Confederacy was w^orthless 
for such a purpose, but there was at hand the equivalent of 
gold, — an immense quantity of cotton, — and there were a 
plenty of Northern men who were willing to sell the South 
supplies for this cotton. It was absolutely necessary to procure 
food somewhere, and the Government was urged to make the 
purchases upon the terms held out to it. 

In the fall of 1862 a responsible party, properly vouched for, 
proposed to deliver thirty thousand hogsheads of bacon through 
the Southern lines for an equivalent in cotton, the latter to be 
delivered at Memphis, which city was then in possession of the 
enemy. The President was informed that there was cotton 
enough in the vicinity of Memphis to buy food and clothing for 
the whole army, and that if it was not used for this purpose, it 
must be destroyed to prevent its falling into the hands of the 
enemy ; that the owners of the cotton were willing to sell it to 
the Government for such a pui-pose, but were disposed to resist 
its destruction. The Secretary of War approved the measure, 



WINTER QUARTERS. 437 

and the Commissary-General, who for once was fully alive to 
the emergency, and anxious to secure the proffered provii^ions, 
endorsed the proposition as follows: "The alternative is thus 
presented of violating our policy of withholding cotton from 
the enemy or risking the starvation of our armies." There was 
no law to forbid this trade, and the President was urged to allow 
the Commissary-General to sell only enough cotton to supply 
the army with bacon and salt, and shoes and blankets. He was 
shown that such a course had been successfully pursued in other 
wars, and informed by the Commissary-General that the efforts 
then being made would not secure aired bacon for the next year ; 
that the enemy were constantly driving into the Southern lines 
large numbers of refugees, and thus increasing the demand for 
supplies ; that the State of Tennessee was not able to do more 
than feed the Western Army ; and that the supply of hogs for 
18 02 would fall below that of 1861 by about one hundred thou- 
sand, and that scarcely any beef remained on hand. The 
Secretary of War, General Randolph, a gentleman noted for 
the soundness and accuracy of his judgment, declared officially 
to the President; *' Unless the deficiency be made up by pur- 
chases beyond the limits of the Confederacy, I apprehend serious 
consequences." In fact every effort was made to bring Mr. 
Davis to realize the importance of the offer held out to the 
Government. The manner in which he met the emergency was 
remarkable, to say the least, lie declined the offer, in the fol- 
lowing communication to General Randolph : 

" Secretary of War : 

♦ ' Is there any necessity for immediate action ? Is there sat- 
isfactory evidence that the present opportunity is the last which 
will be offered? Have you noticed the scheme of the enemy 
for the payment of their next accruing interest on their public 
debt? You will not fail to perceive the effect of postponing 



438 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

the proposed action until January 1st, 1863, if it be necessary 
at any time to depart from the well-defined policy of our Gov- 
ernment in relation to cotton. 

Jeff Davis." 
October 31, 1862."* 

The reader will hardly credit the assertion, but it is never- 
theless a fact that Mr. Davis had conceived the insane idea of 
rendering the Federal Government unable to pay the interest 
on its debts by withholding a few bales of cotton. He could 
not be made to believe the accuracy of the estimates presented 
to him, and to the last persisted in declaring that the South 
was more than able to provide meat for the armies. 

Having failed in their efforts to get supplies through the en- 
emy's lines, the friends of the army proposed to the Govern- 
ment to procure provisions abroad. A contract was made by 
the Government with parties of great wealth and credit, to run 
provisions, especially meat and coffee, tlirough the Federal 
blockade, into Southern ports. The Government was to fur- 
nish the steamers, and to provide cotton for exportation. This 
cotton was to be sold, and the return cargo purchased by the 
private individuals who were parties to the contract, for which 
these parties were to charge a commission more reasonable than 
the Government had ever paid to any other blockade runners. 
Every advantage was held out to the Government by the pri- 
vate parties, and it was hoped that food and clothing would 
now be procui'ed. The scheme unfortunately failed, through 
the gross mismanagement of the Government. Large quanti- 
ties of provisions were purchased by the private parties to the 
contract, and deposited at Nassau and Bermuda, in readiness 
to be sent into the Cojifederacy. The Government was crim- 

* For a more complete account of this and other simihir transactions see 
"Ths: Lost Cause," by Edward A. Pollard, pp. 480—489. 



WINTER QUARTERS. 439 

inally slack and irregular In its payments, and its policy with 
regard to sending out cotton was so close and illiberal that few 
persons thought it sufficient inducement to incur the danger of 
breaking the blockade. Again, when the Crenshaw Collie line 
of steamers was established in the spring of 1864, under more 
favorable auspices than might have been reasonably hoped for, 
the failure of the Government to comply with its contracts to 
furnish the necessary amounts of cotton, threw the whole trade 
into the hands of private speculators, and deprived the army of 
any benefit from it. Indeed, just as this business had Bteen 
fairly started, the Government took the best ship owned by the 
company, the Atlanta, in spite of the remonstrances of the 
parties engaged in the trade, and with the knowledge that this 
vessel was needed to bring into the South, from Bermuda and 
Nassau, stores of a perishable nature which had been collected 
there, and which were absolutely needed by the army. 

These blunders on the part of the Government, and the 
worthlessness of the currency, drove it to its mad policy of im- 
pressments in order to procure food. The exploits of the im- 
pressment officers under the rule of Mr. Seddon and Colonel 
Northrop, were simply a series of outrages upon the people 
which resulted in arraying almost the entire country against the 
Government. Men finally became so exasperated that they 
l)referred to desti'oy or hide their provisions rather than let the 
Government have them. There was good reason for this, for 
the impressment system was a cloak for the most iniquitous 
Irauds. 

" It is astonishing what silly devices were hit upon at Rich- 
mond to meet the coming necessity, and how the empirical 
lemedies of shallow brains aggravated the disorder. One of 
these so-called remedies proved one of the vilest curses that was 
ever fastened upon the Confederacy. On the 6th of November 
1863, an order was issued by the Secretary of War, that no 



44.0 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

supplies held by a party for his own consumption, or that of 
his employes or slaves, should be impressed, and that ' no of- 
ficer should at any time, unless specially ordered so to do by a 
general commanding, in a case of exigency, impress supplies 
which were on their way to market for sale on arrival.' The 
construction given to that order filled the land with purchasers, 
— private individuals, railroad companies, manufacturers of all 
kinds, corporations of every class, relief associations of cities, 
towns, and counties were personally, or by their agents, in the 
market buying a year's supply, unlimited as to price, and pro- 
tected from impressment. Speculators, whose purchases were 
generally in transitu, found themselves pi'otected, and the Gov- 
ernment playing into their hands. The sudden influx of pur- 
chasers into the market stimulated the cupidity of producers and 
holders of the necessaries of life, and induced them to withhold 
their supplies, under the expectation of higher prices, and act- 
ually raised the prices of all prime articles fully one hundred 
per cent, within a single month. The purchasing oflficers of 
the Government could not buy ; nor was it reasonable to expect 
parties to sell to the Government at schedule price when double 
that price was offered at their doors by others. They could 
not impress, for holders had, with great promptness, contracted 
for all their supplies to parties who paid them higher prices, and 
thus it naturally and surely happened that the regular supplies 
of the Government were cut oflP. The whole land was infected 
by speculators pampered by Mr. Seddon, the Secretary of War ; 
and the soldier, who was without shelter, fighting our battles, 
found himself discriminated against in favor of the private cit- 
izen — who, with a roof above him, could better stand a short 
allowance of food, — and put at the mercy of the most heartless 
and hateful speculators, who had no conception of the war be- 
j ond that of dollars and cents."* 

* The Lost Cause pp. 487, 488. 



WINTER QUARTERS. 441 

The Government did not always keep faith with the people, 
even in this matter. Instead of rescinding the oi'der of tiie Sec- 
retary of War, the Commissary-General instructed his agents 
to impress supplies in transitu. Mr. Seddon was afraid to inter- 
fere with these otKcials as he was given to understand that Col- 
onel Northrop was sustained by the President. This, too, 
within fifteen days after the order was issued. 

The extent to whicfi the Commissary-General became obnox- 
ious, may be judged by the following incident. About the last 
of November, Captains Montgomery and Leathers, two well- 
known steamboat captains of the Southwest, offered to furnish 
the Government with a million pounds of salt beef on the main 
line of railroad in Florida, at a reduced price. The cattle were 
exposed to raids by the enemy, and had to be transported by 
steamboats, and the parties making this offer owned the only 
steamers in certain waters of Florida. They were not willing 
to treat with Colonel Northrop, and desired to make their prop- 
osition directly to the Secretary of War. The proposal 
was, however, referred to the Commissary-General, and the 
captains abandoned the matter, and left the city in disgust.* 

I have made this digression too long, however, and must 
pass on. I shall have occasion to return to the subject further 
on. 

With the hope of filling up his ranks, General Lee offered 
furloughs to all who could procure recruits. To this end he 
issued the following order : 

" HEAD<)nARTBBS ArMT OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, 

January 1st, 1863. 
" GENERAL ORDER, 
No. 1. 

" A furlough of thirty days will be granted to every enlisted 
mar. who will secure to any company of the Army of Northern 

* Diary of a Rebel War Clerk, Vol. ii. p. 109. 
£6 



442 LIFE OF GEXEPvAL LEE. 

Virginia, an able-bodied recruit physically qualified to perform 
the duties of a soldier ; of good moral character, who is not a 
deserter, or absent without leave from any other command, who 
could be received under ordinary circumstances under the regu- 
lations of the War Department governing enlistments, who 
shall enlist unconditionally for the war, and actually be present, 
ready to report for duty with his command. 

By command of Gen. R. E. Lee, 
(Signed) W. H. Taylor, A. A. G. 

In view of the resumption of hostilities in the spring. General 
Lee, about the 25th of January, recommended the formation of 
several additional brigades of cavalry for service In his army. 
He urged the Government to take for this purpose the cavalry 
in South Carolina, and not to heed the objections of the State 
Authorities and Generals along the Carolina coast who would 
oppose their withdrawal. He stated that the enemy were col- 
lecting a very strong force on the liapidan, and that it was ab- 
solutely necessary for him to have more cavalry. The events 
of the spring campaign proved the wisdom of his views. 

The 8th of April, 1864, having been set apart by the Presi- 
dent as a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, General Lee 
directed the proper observance of the day.* 

♦IlEADQUARTEKS ARMY OF NORTHERN VlEQUTLi, 
March, 30, 1801. 
" GENERAL OKDEE, 
No. 23. 

" In compliance with the recommendation of the Senate and House of Rep- 
resentatives, His Excellency the President, has issued his proclamation call- 
ing upon tlie people to set apart Friday, the 8th of April, as a day of fasting, 
humiliation, and prayer. 

" The commanding General invites the army to join in the observance of the 
day. He directs due preparations to be made in all departments, to anticipate 
the wants of the several commands, so that it may be strictly observed. All 
military duties, except such as are absolutely necessary, will be suspended. 
The chaplains are desired to hold services in their regiments and brigades 
The officers and men are requested to attend. 



WINTER QUARTERS. 443 

When General Lee embarked in the cause of his native State, 
he was the possessor of considerable wealth. His estate fell into 
the hands of the enemy at the outset, and by the close of 1862, 
his other property was within the Federal lines, and of no ser- 
vice to him. He was dependent upon his pay as a General of 
the Confederate army. This soon became inadequate to the task 
of providing for his family, and they, in common with the peo- 
ple of the South, were subjected to hardships and privations. 

This became known to the citizens of Richmond, and the city 
government at once appropriated a large sum for the purchase of 
a residence for the General and his family, which was to be 
presented to them in the name of the.people of Richmond. Gen- 
eral Lee learned this plan from the daily newspapers, and at 
once addressed the following note to the President of the City 
Council of Richmond : 

Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia, 
November 12, 1SG3. 

"To THE President of the City Council, Riclimond, Va.: 

" Sir : My attention has been directed to a resolution reported 
in the newspapers as liaving been introduced into the body over 
which you preside, having for its object the purchase by the city 
of Richmond of a house for the use of my fixmily. 

" I assure you, sir, that no want of appreciation of the honor 
conferred upon me by this resolution, or insensibility to the kind 
feelings which prompted it, induces me to ask, as I most respect- 
fully do, that no further proceedings be taken with reference to 
the subject. The house is not necessary to the use of my fam- 
ily, and my own duties will prevent my residence in Richmond. 

" Soldiers ! let us humble ourselves before the Lord, our God, asking, 
tiirough Clirist, the forgiveness of our sins, beseeching the aid of tlie God of 
our forefathers in the defence of our homes and our liberties, thanking Him 
for His past blessings, and imploring their continuance upon our cause and 
our people. R. E. Lee, GencrU." 



444 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

I should, therefore, be compelled to decline the generous offer, 
and trust that whatever means the City Council may have to 
spare for this purpose may be devoted to the relief of the fami- 
lies of our soldiers in the field, who are more in want of assist- 
ance and more deserving of it than myself. 

I have the honor to be, most respectfully, 

Your ob't serv't, 

R. E. Lee, General.'" 

Nothing but a pure unselfishness and a high sense of duty 
dictated this letter. When General Lee linked his fate with 
that of Virginia, he knew he wOuld be called upon to sufiPer 
many hardships, and he was ready to bear his part in the great 
sorrow which had fallen to the lot of the nation. The city 
authorities, however, were not willing to let him run any risk as 
long as they could prevent it, and they secured the amount ap- 
propriated for a house, to his fomily in such a manner as to pre- 
vent them from being placed in danger of want. 

During the winter General Pickett's division was detached 
from the army, and sent to North Carolina. 

The Federal force on the Peninsula was at this time com- 
manded by Major-General B. F. Butler. Towards the last of 
January, General Butler conceived the idea of capturing Rich- 
mond by a sudden dash of his forces, being under the impres- 
sion that the city had been stripped of its garrison. lie was to 
send a raiding party up the Peninsula to surprise Richmond 
and to cover this movement, the Army of the Potomac was to 
make a demonstration against Lee's army on the Rapidan. His 
raiding party, under General WIstar, reached Bottom's Bridge 
on the Chickahominy on the 6th of February, but finding the 
road to Richmond strongly guarded, retired down the Peninsula. 
On the 7th, General Sedgwick, commanding the Federal army 
during General Meade's absence, made a demonstration against 



WINTER QUARTERS. 445 

the lowei' fords of the Rapidan, but accomplished nothing, and 
lost two hundred and fifty men. 

Towards the close of the winter a more serious attempt was 
made by the enemy to take Richmond. An expedition consist- 
ing of four thousand cavalry was fitted out with great care, for 
the purpose of capturing the city, and releasing the Union pris- 
oners confined there. The command of this expedition was 
entrusted to General Kilpatrick. lie was seconded by Colonel 
Uiric Dahlgreen, a young officer of great skill and darin"-. 
The plan of this expedition was as follows. A column under 
General Custar was to make a dash upon Charlottesville, to draw 
attention from the main body, which was to proceed to Beaver 
Dam, on the Central Railroad. Arriving there, the column 
was to be divided. A part, under General Kilpatrick, was to 
move upon Richmond along the north bank of James River, 
while the remainder, under Colonel Dahlgreen, were to cross to 
the south side, move down the right bank of the James, release 
the prisoners at Belle Isle, opposite Richmond, recross the river, 
burning the bridges after them, and rejoin Kilpatrick in tlie city. 
Richmond was to be given to the flames and President Davis 
and his cabinet killed.* 

The expedition set out on the morning of the 28th of Feb- 
ruary. Custar attempted his part, but upon reaching the 
vicinity of Charlottesville was driven off by Stuart's horse 
artillery, when he at once fell back to his infantry supports at 
Madison Court House. 

At Beaver Dam the main column was divided, Kilpatrick 
keeping on towards Richmond, and Dahlgren moving towards 
the river. Kilpatrick approached the city by the Brook Turn- 
pike, and then, with scarcely a show of fighting, turned off, and 
kept on down the Peninsula. 

Dahlgreen succeeded in reaching the James, but finding the 

* See Note D, at the close of the volume. 



446 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

river too high to be forded, moved towards Richmond by the 
Westlitim plank-road, v^^hich runs parallel w^ith the river, at a 
distance of about a mile from it, hoping to be able to join Kil- 
patrick before the city. On the night of the 1st of March, 
only a few hours after Kilpatrick's weak and strange retreat, 
Colonel Dahlgreen arrived within four miles of Richmond. 
Here he encountered a batallion composed of department clerks, 
and another of laborers in the Government workshops, posted 
on Green's Farm. 

It was an intensely dark night, but as Colonel Dahlgreen was 
at the head of five hundred picked troopers, he felt confident of 
dispersing the small force opposed to him, and ordered his men 
to charge the " militia." The militia, however, received the 
chaige with a well directed volley, which emptied eleven saddles, 
and scattered the cavalry in confusion. Without attempting to 
renew tl.e attack Dahlgreen set off around the city, to gain the 
road leading down the Peninsula. During his retreat he be- 
came separated, with about one hundred horsemen, from the 
rest of his command, and about eleven o'clock on the night of 
the 3rd of jNIarch, rode up to the bivouac of a party of the 24th 
Virginia cavalry, who were on the watch for him. As soon as 
he discovered the Confederates, he ordered them to surrender. 
His demand was met by the discharge of about a dozen guns. 
A few shots were returned by the Federal cavalry, who imme- 
diately took to flight, leaving Colonel Dahlgreen behind, a 
corpse. The next day the men who were with him at the time 
of his death, surrendered to the Confederates. 

Thus ended the famous raid which came so near resulting in 
the capture and destruction of the Southern Capital. The city 
was utterly defenceless on the morning of March 1st, when the 
approach of the raiders was announced, and had the Federal 
cavalry appeared before Richmond at daylight that morning, as 
was their design, nothing could have saved the city, there being 
no force at hand to prevent the entrance of the enemy. 



PREPARATIONS FOR THE CAMPAIGN. 447 



X. 

THE OYERLAls^D CAMPAIGN. 

May— June, 1864. 



I. 

PEEPARATIONS FOR THE CAMPAIGN. 

It was understood by all parties that the campaign of 1864 
would be more momentous than any that had preceded it, if, 
indeed, it did not decide the struggle. What little preparation 
could be made on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia 
was carried out promptly and with vigor. The army was very 
weak, and no reenforcements could be had. The corps of Gen- 
eral Longstreet, which had been operating in Tennessee during 
the fall and winter, returned to the army about the 1st of May, 
but brought with it only two of its divisions — Pickett's, to- 
gether with a considerable force, having been sent to North 
Carolina on an expedition which never profited the South. 
Recruits had ceased to come in voluntarily, and the conscription 
was taking; out of the service more men than it brought in. 
There was nothing for General Lee to hope for in the matter 
of increasing his army, and the fact that he would soon be 
called on to face the large force under General Grant filled him 
with grave anxiety. 

The Army of Northern Virginia now numbered less than fifty 



448 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

thousand men. The effective strength of Ewell's corps waa 
about fifteen thousand, that of Hill's about fourteen thousand, 
and Longstreet's (one of whose divisions — Pickett's — was 
absent, and whose corps had lost heavily in Tennessee,) had 
barely ten thousand men. The cavalry had dwindled down to 
a mere brigade and was scarcely three thousand strong, while 
the artillery was no stronger in proportion than the infantry. 
The army had been fed during the winter on the starvation 
policy of President Davis and Colonel Northrop, and was not 
in good ' ' fighting trim " as far as its physical condition was 
concerned. The troops were improperly clothed, and many 
of the men lacked shoes. Still there was but one sentiment in 
the whole army — a stern determination to do all that could be 
done to secure the success of the cause. 

The position held by the Confederates was naturally so 
strong, and had been fortified with so much care, that Genei-al 
Lee had no apprehension of an attack in front, and was inclined 
to believe that the next effort of the enemy would be made against 
his right, which offered more advantages for an offensive move- 
ment than his left. The line which he had to defend was a long 
one, and, though General Lee expected an attempt against his 
rio-ht, it was uncertain which flank the Federal commander 
would select. Therefore it was necessary to watch the whole 
line, and be prepared for an attack either from the left, in the 
direction of Gordonsville, or from the lower fords on the rio^ht. 
The line of the Eapidan was held by small detachments, prin- 
cipally for purposes of observation, and the main army was 
posted in eghelon from the neighborhood of Somerville Ford on 
the Rapidan to Gordonsville. Longstreet's corps was at the 
latter place, Hill was at Orange Court House, and Ewell on the 
Rapidan. The disposition of the army was such that it could 
be rapidly concentrated upon any threatened point. 

The Federal Authorities had been active durino: the winter 



PREPARATIONS FOR THE CAMPAIGN. 449 

and early spring. The experience of the war had taught them 
wisdom, and they determined in the campaign just about to 
open, to place the entire direction of their military operations 
in the hands of a single individual, who should receive the chief 
command of all their armies. 

The person selected to jSll this high post was ^Major-General 
Ulysses S. Grant. General Grant had enteved the service of 
the United States at the commencement of the war, and had 
risen steadily from the rank of Colonel to the high position now 
conferred upon him. Whatever opinion men might entertain 
as to his genius, there could be no doubt that he was the most 
successful commander the war had produced, and it v.as natural 
that when so many had failed, his successes should make him 
also the most popular General in the Union service. His ideas 
of war were not those of a great commander, and were based 
less upon the employment of military skill than of brute force. 
His system of warfare may be briefly summed up in his own 
words — to employ superior forces, and " to hammer continu- 
ously against the armed force of the enemy and his resources, 
until by mere attrition, if no other way, there should be nothing 
left to him but an equal submission with the loyal section of our 
common country to the Constitution and Laws of the land.'' 
But though not a great soldier, in the military sense of the 
word, General Grant was possessed of an energy and persever- 
ance that were as remarkable as they were great. Nothing was 
sufficient to turn him from his purpose, and when he once 
embarked in an enterprise, he did so with a resolution not to 
abandon it as long as there remained to him the least hope of 
success. 

He entered upon the command of the Federal armies on the 

17th of jNlarch, 1864:, and, as it was evident that the principal 

struggle of the war would be made in Virginia, established his 

headquarters with the Army of the Potomac, the immediate 

57 



450 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

command of whicli was retained by General Meade. General 
Grant at once proceeded to prepare Meade's array for the cam- 
paign. He had everything to encourage him. The Federal 
armies were never in a better condition, and his Government 
responded readily to every one of his suggestions. New levies 
were made in the Northern States, and the War Department 
exerted itself to increase the armies in the field to the enormous 
strength of one million of men. Heavy bounties were of- 
fered, and these, with the draft, succeeded so well in procur- 
ing recruits, that when the war closed, the army of the United 
States numbered more than a million of men. Arms, clothing, 
and supplies of all kinds were provided and distributed without 
regard to cost, and nothing was left undone that could in the 
least contribute to the accomplishment of the end in view. 
General Grant also enjoyed the great advantage which had 
been denied to the commanders of the Army of the Potomac, 
of being unfettered by instructions from Washington. 

The army of General Meade was reorganized and divided 
into three corps, the 2d, 5th, and 6th, commanded respectively 
by Generals Hancock, Warren, and Sedgwick, officers of tried 
ability. The cavalry was placed under Major-General Sher- 
idan, and by his vigorous measures brought to the highest state 
of efficiency. By the end of April the 9th corps, which had 
been organizing at Annapolis as a separate command, under 
General Burnside, was added to the Army of the Potomac, and 
swelled the total effective strength of that army to about one 
hundred and forty thousand men of all arms. 

With this force General Grant resolved to move upon the 
army of General Lee at the earliest possible moment. His 
plan of operations was as follows : The Army of the Potomac, 
under General Grant's immediate direction, was to cross the 
Eapidan, assail Lee's right, seize his communications, force 
him from his position, and compel him to fight a general engage- 



THE WILDERNESS. 451 

ment between his present line and Richmond. If successful. 
General Grant was to pursue his antagonist to Richmond, and 
capture the city and Confederate army. At the same time, a 
strong column, under Major-General Butler, was to ascend the 
James River, from Fortress Monroe, capture City Point, and 
move up the south bank of the river to seize the communica- 
tions of the Confederates south of the James, and, if possible, 
capture Petersburg. Another use which General Grant hoped 
to make of Butler's army was, in case he should not defeat 
Lee before reaching Richmond, to have it in position to cover 
his passage of the James River, it being his intenti6n, if he 
failed on the north side, to throw his whole army to the south 
side, and strike at the Confederate Capital in its most vulnerable 
point. While these movements were in progress in Eastern 
Virginia, the command of General Sigel was to be organized 
into two expeditions, one in the Kanawha Valley, under General 
Crook, and the other in the Shenandoah Valley, under General 
Sigel in person. The former was to make a descent upon the 
Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, and cut off Lee's supplies 
from Southwestern Virginia, and the latter to cut the Central 
Railroad, the other great line of supplies. These columns 
would, it was believed, be sufficient for the " crushing out of 
the rebellion " in Virginia. 

The bad weather and wet spring delayed the Federal array 
until the beginning of May. 



II, 

THE WILDERNESS. 

At midnight on the 3d of May, the Federal army commenced 
to advance. It moved in two columns ; the right consisting of 



452 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Warren's and Sedgwick's corps, crossed the Eapidan at Ger- 
manna Ford, and the left, consisting of Hancock's corps, crossed 
at Ely's Ford, six miles below. General Burnside's corps was 
left to guard the position held by the army during tlie winter, 
with orders to follow across the river in twenty-four hours. 
The passage of the river was effected during the 4th of May, 
and the army bivouacked that night between the Eapidan and 
Chancellors ville, Hancock's corps encamping on the old battle- 
o-round of the previous spring. The next day the march was 
resumed, it being General Grant's design, now that he had 
succeeded in turning Lee's right flank, to march rapidly through 
the Wilderness to Gordonsville, and plant himself between the 
Confederate army and Richmond. The order of march for the 
5th of May was stated as follows, by^ General Meade, in his 
instructions to his corps commanders : — 

" 1st Major-General Sheridan, commanding cavalry corps, 
will move with Gregg's and Torbert's divisions against the ene- 
my's cavalry in the direction of Hamilton's Crossing. General 
Wilson, with the third cavalry division, will move at five A. M. 
to Craig's Meeting-house on the Catharpin road. He will 
keep out parties on the Orange Court House Pike and plank 
road, the Catharpin road, Pamunkey road ( road to Orange 
Springs), and in the direction of Troyman's store and An- 
drews' store or Good Hope Church. 2nd. Major-General 
Hancock, commanding 2nd corps, will move at five A. M. to 
Shady Grove Church and extend his right towards the 5th corps 
at Parker's store, ord. Major-General Warren, commanding 
5th corps, will move at five a. m. to Parker's store on the 
Orange Court House plank-road, and extend his right towards 
the 6th corps at Old Wilderness Tavern. 4th. Major-General 
Sedgwick, commanding 6th corps, will move to Old Wilderness 
Tavern on the Orange Court House Pike as soon as the road 
is clear." 



THE WILDERNESS. 453 

By a glance at the map the reader will see that if Gen- 
eral Grant had been permitted to make this march, it would 
have placed his army in the open country beyond the Wilder- 
ness. He was confident, from the fact of having been permitted 
to cross the Rapidan without molestation, that General Lee 
was endeavoring to secure his retreat in order to preserve his 
communications with the Capital, and he expected to be able 
so to mask the march of his army through the dangerous 
Wilderness as to reach the open country beyond in safety, and 
before Lee should be ready to meet hira. Therefore he neither 
expected nor desired an encounter in the Wilderness. 

Meanwhile the Confederate army was in rapid motion. 
General Lee had been watching his adversary closely, and no 
sooner hnd General Grant commenced his movement than the 
Confederate commander detected and comprehended it. The 
plan which he adopted to meet the advance was both daring and 
skilful. He determined to permit General Grant to cross the 
Rapidan without molestation, and thus lui-e him into the Wilder- 
ness, when he would fall upon him unexpectedly and destroy the 
Federal army in the depths of the jungle, where it would be 
impossible for the Federals to use their artillery, and where they 
would be forced to fight at great disadvantage. The Confed- 
erate commanders were well acquainted with the country in 
which General Lee meant to bring on the battle, while to the 
enemy it was a bewildering thicket. General Lee determined 
to move his army by the plank road and turnpike leading from 
Orange Court House to Fredericksburg, and running parallel 
to each other. These roads ran eastward from Hill's position 
at the Court House, and intersected the roads by which the 
Federal army was moving, at right angles, and the distance by 
each from Hill's position to the Federal line of march was only 
about twenty miles. 

Accordingly, on the 4th of May, Lee advanced Ewell's and 



454 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Hill's corps, — the former by the Old Turnpike, the latter by 
the plank road, — and ordered Longstreet to march at once 
from Gordonsville, and move down on the right of Ewell, so as 
to strike the Federal advanced forces while on their march. 
Thus, while Grant was congratulating himself upon his safe 
passage of the Rapidan, which he " regarded as a great suc- 
cess,"* and expecting to find Lee retreating before him, Lee 
was quietly changing his frgnt, and disposing his army so as to 
strike Grant when he least expected it, and dispute his march 
to Gordonsville. 

Thus it happened that on the night of May 4th, the advance 
of the Federal army — Warren's corps — halted at Old Wil- 
derness Tavern, at the point of intersection of the road from 
Germanna Ford with the Orange and Fredericksburg Turn- 
pike, while Ewell's corps bivouacked on the latter road, only 
three miles from Warren's camp, neither force being aware of 
the presence of the other. 

Early on the morning of the 5th of May, both columns 
resumed the advance, the Federal army moving as indicated in 
General Meade's order, unaware of the arrangements made to 
dispute its progress. Warren was followed by Sedgwick's 
corps, which was then lying near the river, and to guard 
against any movement of the Confederates from the Orange 
Turnpike, he threw out Griffin's division on that road, and 
moved Crawford's division by a wood road to gain Parker's 
Store. f 

When Ewell went into camp on the night of the 4th, his 
force was disposed as follows : Johnson's division was in the 
advance, within three miles of Old Wilderness Tavern, Rodes 
lay in his rear, and Early followed, halting at Locust Grove. 
At six o'clock the next morning the presence of the enemy was 

* General Grant's Jieport, p. 6. 

t Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 419. 



THE WILDERNESS. 455 

reported to Genei-al Johnson, who immediately threw forward 
his division to secure a position on some high ground where he 
proceeded to form his line. 

General Grant, avIio had now arrived on the field in person, 
made his dispositions to drive off the force resisting his march, 
which he supposed to be merely a handful. He was still under 
the impi'ession that, as he had turned Lee's right flank, that 
officer would prefer flight to an encounter on the Rapidan, and 
he regarded the corps of General Ewell as merely a rear-guard 
covering the Confederate retreat, for he never dreamed of being 
attacked in that region.* 

The country in which General Lee had thus thrown down 
the jTairo of battle was one in which it was difficult to manoeu- 
vrc, and Lre, having selected his position to bar the march of 
his adversary, secured an important advantage, inasmuch as he 
was able to choose Ixis own ground. The woods wei'e very 
thick, — so dense, indeed, that not even a regimental commander 
could see the whole of his line at the same moment, and after 
leaving the roads, the only guides which could be followed in 
many instances were the points of the compass. 

Still, thinking that the force in his front was only the Con- 
federate rear-guard. General Grant decided to make his attack 
with only three divisions of Warren's corps, and about noon 
advanced this force, and made an impetuous assault on John- 
son's division. The Federals were received with a hot fire of 
musketry, but without flinching they pressed on, and after a 
severe struggle broke the line where it crossed the turnpike, 
and was held by the brigade of General J. M. Jones. Follow- 
ing up their success, they swept the Confederates back in con- 
fusion, and poured through the gap they had made, with loud 
cheers. Genei-al Jones tried in vain to i-ally his men. They 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, pp. 421. 422. 



456 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

were incapable of re-forming, and the gallant General waa 
killed while engaged in his lieroic but hopeless undertaking. 

There was danger that the whole division would be routed. 
General Stewart immediately moved his brigade from its posi- 
tion in the line of battle, and liurled it upon the head of the 
Federal column wliich was pressing on through the gap in the 
line. This prompt movement saved the day, and the enemy 
were driven back rapidly from the ground they had gained, 
leaving two pieces of artillery in the hands of Stewart's men. 

At the same time, General Ewell advanced Rodes' division 
to Johnson's assistance, and directed General Gordon to take 
his own and Daniels' brigades (both of Rodes' division), and 
drive the enemy back on the right. Gordon obeyed the order 
to the letter, driving the Federals back for a mile and a half, 
and capturing, during the movement, an entire regiment with its 
officers and colors. 

On the left the. attack was made a little later, and was met 
by the brigades of Pegram and Hays, and repulsed, and the 
Confederates, then pressing forward, drove the enemy back for 
a mile. 

The troops were recalled to their original line. Not wishing to 
attack the Federal army with only his own corps, General Ewell 
held his position to await the arrival of Hill and Longstreet. 

The repulse of Warren's corps convinced General Grant that 
the Confederate commander had really determined to offer him 
battle in tl)e Wilderness instead of retreating, and he imme- 
diately brougiit up tlie 6th corps, under General Sedgwick, and 
sent orders to General Hancock to hurry forward with the 2d 
corps. The road by which Hancock was marching, is known 
as the Brock road, and intersects the Orange Plank Road about 
two miles and a half southwest of Old Wilderness Tavern, and 
four miles east of Parker's Store on the latter road. The corps 
of A. P. Hill was moving down the plank road, having left 



THE WILDEHNESi?. 457 

Vertliersville early that morning. Hill's line of mareli woukl 
bring him directly to the crossing of the Brock road, and if he 
should succeed in occupying that position before the ai-rival of 
Hancock, he would cut off the 2d Federal corps from its main 
body. As soon as he saw the exposed condition of these cross 
roads, General Meade sent Getty's division, of Sedgwick's 
corps, to occupy the important point until Hancock could come 
up. Hill arrived in front of the cross roads shortly after the 
repulse of Warren's attack, and, finding Getty's division on the 
ground, and not knowing what force it was, formed his line, 
across the plank road, and commenced to feel the strength of 
tlie enemy. 

General Lee arrived with Hill's corps, or rather in company 
with General Hill, a little in advance of the troops. While 
the attack upon Ewell was in progress Generals Lee and Hill, 
together with several other officers, halted for a few moments 
in an open field. Immediately in front was a heavy thicket, 
and at this instant it was occupied by a Federal scouting party. 
The scouts were within less than two hundred yards of the 
Confederate commander, and might easily have shot him, but 
unav-^are that it was General Lee, and startled at finding them- 
selves so unenpectedly in the Southern lines, they beat a hasty 
retreat. 

As soon as Hill's line was formed, General Lee directed 
General Wilcox to open communications with General Ewell, 
which was soon accomplished. 

The Confederate army now occupied a line six miles in length 
extendino- from the thick woods on the right of the Oranire 
Plank Road to beyond the Old Turnpike on the left, and cover- 
ing both of these roads, running almost the whole way through 
heavy woods. Immediately in front was the thicket occupied 
by the Federal army, which was by its position prevented from 
using its artillery except on the cleared spaces of the roads. 
5S 



458 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Hancock, having succeeded in occupying the Brock road, 
extended his line along it towards the south, and about four 
o'clock was ordered by General Grant to attack Hill's corps, 
which was in line of battle only about three hundred yards dis- 
tant, and drive it back to Parker's Store. Hancock at once 
made his attack with impetuosity, and endeavored, in "repeated 
and desperate assaults" to force back the Southern line. Hill's 
men received every advance with such w^ell directed volleys of 
musketry that Hancock was driven back every time with heavy 
loss. The effort to force Hill's line from its position failed, and 
the fiofhtinoj ceased at nightfall. 

The advantage was decidedly with the Confederates. They 
had checked the advance of the Federals, had prevented them 
from laying hold of the communications of the Southern army 
with Richmond, had forced them into a battle which they did 
not expect or desire, and had repulsed every assault, inflicting 
severe loss vipon them, and capturing two thousand prisoners 
and four pieces of artillery. 

The Southern loss was heavy, but much less than that of the 
enemy.* As Longstreet's corps had not yet come up. General 

* That night General Lee sent the following bulletin to Richmond : 

f 

" Headquarters Army or Northern Virginia, 
May 5, 1864. 
" Hon. Secretary of War : 

"The enemy crossed the Rapidan at Ely's and Germanna Fords. Two 
corps of this army moved to oppose him — Ewell by the old turnpike, and 
Hill by the plank road. They arrived this morning in close pro.ximity to the 
enemy's line of march. A strong attack was made upon Ewell, who repulsed 
it, capturing many prisoners and four pieces of artillery. The enemy subse- 
quently concentrated upon General Hill who, with Heth's and Wilcox's divi- 
sions, successfully resisted repeated and desperate assaults. A large force 
of cavalry and artillery on our right was driven back by Rosser's brigade. Bj 
the blessing of God we maintained our position against every effort until night, 
when the contest closed. We have to mourn the loss of many brave officers 
and men. The gallant Brigadier-General J. M. Jones, was killed, and Brig- 
adier-General Stafford, I fear, mortally wounded, while leading his command 
with conspicuous valor. 

(Signed,) R. E. Lee." 



THE WILDERNESS. 459 

Lee decided not to press his advantage, but to await the arrival 
of all his forces. 

General Longstreet, as soon as he received General Lee's 
orders, set out from Gordons ville on the morning of the 4th. 
Marching with characteristic energy, he reached a point about 
ten miles from the battle-field late in the afternoon of the 5th, 
but, owing to the density of the woods, did not hear the firing 
in front, and was unaware that an engagement was in progress, 
until he received an order from General Lee to move to Hill's 
assistance. It was late at night when the order reached him, 
and he at once prepared to execute it. It was designed that he 
should relieve Hill's corps which had been hotly engaged during 
the 5th. 

At two o'clock on the morning of the 6th, General Longstreet 
put his column in motion, and reached Hill's position a little 
after daylight. Hill's men had been informed that Longstreet 
would relieve them, and they commenced to retire as his column 
came up. 

Just at this moment, however, the Federals renewed the at- 
tack, directing their efforts by a strange chance, against Hill's 
line. During the night, the 9th corps, under General Burn- 
side arrived, and took position between Hancock and Sedgwick. 

General Lee had determined to assume the offensive, and to 
attack Grant at five o'clock on the morning of the 6th. His 
design was to turn the Federal left and force Grant to retire to 
the Rapidan, and just before Grant opened fire upon Hill's 
position, General Ewell made a sharp attack on Sedgwick's 
corps, thus anticipating the Federal commander. 

Hill's men were taken by surprise, and, being engaged in 
their withdrawal, were for a time at the mercy of the enemy. 
Heth's and Wilcox's divisions were thrown into confusion, and 
beaten back upon Longstreet's column which had not yet formed 
its line. They were driven back for a mile or more, to within 



460 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

a hundred yards of the spot where General Lee had estabhshed 
his head-quarters, and for a moment it seemed that the right 
wino- would be driven from its position. 

But Longstreet was equal to the emergency. Throwing for- 
ward Kershaw's division, (formerly McLaws'), he held the en- 
emy in check until he could bring up his whole corps, when he 
drove the Federals before him, and reestablished the line. This 
was not accomplished without severe fighting, for the corps of 
General Hancock which was in Longstreet's immediate front, 
had been so strengthened that Hancock had with him almost 
one half of the entire Federal army. 

This had consumed almost the whole morning, and it was 
now after 10 o'clock. At 11 o'clock, General Longstreet was 
ordered by General Lee to select a part of his force, and attack 
the enemy's left flank. This order was promptly executed, and 
Longstreet, falling suddenly upon Hancock's left, drove it back 
towards the Brock road, which the former now determined to 
seize, as its possession would compel the retreat of General 
Grant to the Rapidan, and place him at the mercy of the Con- 
federates during his flight. Elated by his success. General 
Longstreet spurred forward to lead this movement in person, buf* 
on the way paused to receive the congratulations of General 
Jenkins, a young officer who, by his rapid rise and extraordin- 
ary skill, hiid become a favorite with the whole army. At this 
moment a heavy discharge of musketry was fired upon them by 
their own troops, who had mistaken them and their escorts for 
Federal cavalry. General Longstreet vainly shouted to his men 
to cease firing, but before he could make them understand their 
mistake, he was shot in the throat, the ball passing out through 
his right shoulder. He fell from his horse by the side of his 
friend. General elenkins, who had been killed at the first fire, 
and at first his staff thought he, too, was dead. Discovering 
that he was only wounded, they procured a litter, and he waa 



THE WILDERNESS. 461 

borne to the rear, the troops testifying their sympathy by loud 
cheers, as the litter was carried along the line. 

Now that Longstreet, his most trusted lieutenant, was dis- 
a})led, General Lee assumed the immediate direction of affairs 
on the right. The delay occasioned by the fall of General 
Longstreet, gave the enemy time to discover the menace against 
their right, and to prepare for it. 

It was four o'clock before General Lee could get his troops 
sufficiently in hand to resume the attack. The enemy resisted 
so stubbornly that in about an hour the Southern line was so 
much shaken that it was on the point of giving way. In this 
trying hour, when the fate of the battle seemed suspended by a 
hair, General Lee determined to lead the troops in person in a 
decisive charge. Placing himself at the head of the Texas 
brigade, he ordered it forward. Those who saw him at that 
moment, describe his appearance as inexpressibly grand. He 
had removed his hat, and, bareheaded, and with his hair float- 
ing in the wind, and his features glowing with the fire of a true 
soldier, he pointed in silence toward the Federal line, with a 
gesture far more eloquent than words could have been. For a 
moment the troops paused, and gazed first at their commander 
and then at each other, as if hesitating whether to allow him to 
incur such danger. Then a ragged, scarred veteran, approach- 
ms the Commander-in-Chief, seized his bridle rein and turned 
his horse's head, saying respectfully, but firmly, " You must 
not expose yourself. General Lee. You must go to the rear. 
We will obey your orders. We have never faltered yet, and 
we will not do so now. Will we boys?" he added, turning to 
his comrades. Instantly the whole line took up the cry, " No ! 
no ! General Lee to the rear ! " and the men refused to move 
until General Lee had withdrawn to a safer position.* Touched 

* General Lee was so fully impressed with the importance of the situation, 
especially after the fall of Longstreet, that he paid but little heed to his per- 



462 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

to the heart by this affecting proof of the devotion of his troops, 
General Lee bowed and rode back, while the line with deaf- 
ening cheers, moved forward to the charge. 

The attack was made with a will, and the troops kept their 
promise. The enemy were driven into tlie log breastworks 
which they had erected on the Brock road, and the Confeder- 
ates pressed on to within a hundred yards of the Avorks, pour- 
ing in heavy volleys of musketry. At this moment the log 
breastwork of the enemy was set on fire by the burning forest, 
which had been fired during the afternoon, and the flames, 
sweeping down the road, forced a part of the enemy back from 
their line. Seeing this, the Confederates sprang forward, and 
planted their battle-flags on the captured works. A consid- 
erable body of Hancock's troops at once retreated towards Chan- 
cellorsville, but the rest, rallying, regained possession of the 
works, driving the Confederates from them.* It was now dark, 
and the battle came to an end. 

On the left General Ewell had done good service. During 
the morning the 6th corps, under General Sedgwick, supported 
by Burnside's corps, made repeated efforts to carry his position, 
each of which was repulsed with loss. Towards twilight, Gen- 
eral Gordon, with several brigades, made a fiei'ce attack upon 
Sedgwick's line, driving it back, and sweeping everything be- 
fore him for a distance of two miles. At dark he had forced 
back Sedgwick's corps from its original position, and thrown 
it into considerable confusion, capturing Generals Seymour and 
Shaler, together with the greater part of their brigades. But 
his command having become separated by the darkness and 

sonal safety. During the battle a shell exploded under his own horse, killing 
the horse of his Adjutant-General, Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor, and soon after- 
wards Lieutenant-Colonel Marshall was severely wounded by his side. 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 437. 



THE WILDERNESS. 463 

the dense woods, General Gordon returned to his original po- 
sition.* 

The losses on both sides were heavy. The Confederate 
returns showed a loss of one thousand killed and six thousand 
wounded — a total of seven thousand. The Federal army had 
about twenty thousand men killed, wounded and captured. 

On the morning of the 7th, General Lee refrained from mak- 
ing any offensive movement, and awaited the renewal of the 

* This exploit was reported by General Lee to the War Department as 

follows : — 

" Hkadqcarteks Akmt Nobthebn Viegixia, 
May 7, 1864. 8 P. M. 
"HOSrOBABLE SeCRETABT OF WAK: 

" General Gordon turned the enemy's extreme right yesterday evening, and 
drove him from his rifle pits. Among the prisoners captured are Generals 
Seymour and Shaler. A number of arms were also taken. The enemy has 
abandoned the Germanna Ford road, and removed his ponton-bridge towards 
Ely's. There has been no attack to-day, only slight skirmishing along the line. 
(.Signed,) R. E. Lee." 

The remainder of the events of the day were summed up in a bulletin sent 
oflT at the close of the battle. 

" Headquakters Ansrr Northern Virguha, 
May, 6, 18C4. 
'•To THE Secrexart OF Wak: 

" Early this morning, as the divisions of General Hill, engaged yesterday, 
were being relieved, the enemy advanced, and created some confusion. The 
ground lost was recovered as soon as the fresh troops got into position, and 
the enemy driven back to his original line. Afterwards we turned the left 
of his fresh line, and drove it from the field, leaving a large number of dead 
and wounded in our hands, among them General Wadswortli. A subsequent 
attack forced the enemy into his intrenched lines on the Brock road, extend- 
ing from "Wilderness Tavern on the right, to Trigg's Mill. Every advance on 
his part, thanks to a merciful God, has been repulsed. Our loss in killed is 
not large, but we have many wounded, most of them slightly, artillery being 
little used on either side. I grieve to announce that Lieutenant-General 
Longstreet was severely wounded, and General Jenkins killed. General Pe- 
gram was badly wounded yesterday. General Stafford, it is hoped, will re- 
cover. 

R. E. Lee." 



4G4 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

attack by General Grant. The engagement of the previous 
day had shown him that the Federal position was much stronger 
than he had supposed, and the size of his army admonished 
him to be chary of the lives of his troops. 

General Grant, however, was equally indisposed to resume 
tlie offensive. His army had suffered severely, and he had 
become convinced that it was useless to try to drive Lee from 
his position. Still it was necessary to make some change in 
the situation of affairs. General Lee had effectually prevented 
him from occupying Gordonsville and laying hold of the Con- 
federate communications with Riclniiond, and there remained 
but two courses open to him, to retire across the Rapidan, or 
to move his army southward to Spottsylvania Court House, 
and set between Lee and Richmond. He chose the latter. 

While this movement was in progress. General Sheridan 
was directed to make a dash towards Richmond with his cavalry, 
for the purpose of cutting Lee's communications. Sheridan 
passed around the Confederate right flank to the North Anna 
River, cut the Central Raih-oad at Beaver Dam Station, and 
then passed over to Ashland and cut the Fredericksburg road. 
He was followed hard by the cavalry of General Stuart, whose 
horses were scarcely equal to the task of intercepting him. 
Stuart came up with the Federal horsemen just as they were 
preparing to burn Ashland on the 10th of May, and drove 
them from the town. Sheridan then moved in the direction of 
Richmond, and Stuart taking a shorter route, threw his com- 
mand between the Federal column and the city. Sheridan was 
encountered again at the Yellow Tavern, on the Brook turn- 
pike, seven miles from Richmond , and in the engagement which 
ensued General Stuart was mortally wounded. He was taken 
into the city, and every effort made to save his life ; but he 
died the next day. He was the only great cavalry leader the 
war produced, and his loss was severely felt by the South ; but 



SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT KOUSE. 465 

more especially by the army with whicli he had been so long 
connected. 

After General Stuart's fall, the conduct of the Confederates was 
marked by a strange and unfortunate hesitation. The Federal 
cavalry retired to a piece of woods on the right of the turnpike, 
and, deceiving the Confederates by a show of resistance in front, 
quietly repaired the jNIeadow Bridge across the Chickahoniiny, 
over which they retired unmolested, and retreated down the 
Peninsula. 

Had General Sheridan, instead of halting at Ashland, de- 
cided to hurry forward, and attack Richmond, he would have 
found the city defenceless,* and could have taken it with but 
slio'ht loss. 



IIT. 

SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 

Having decided to move around Lee's right, and occupy 
Spottsylvania Court House, General Grant determined to lose 
no time in doing so. The position held by his army enabled 
him to execute his intention with celerity. Hancock's corps 
held possession of the Brock road, which ran dii-cctly from the 
Federal line to the Court House, which was distant only fifteen 
miles. Durinsr the afternoon he sent his trains oft' in that direc- 
tion, so that his march might not be incommoded by them, and 

* On the night before the battle at the Yellow Tavern, the writer was at the 
Confederate War Department seeking for "news," and while there was told 
by an officer holding a high position in the Department that a large force of 
Federal cavalry was approaching the city, which was defenceless, and that the 
Government was very seriously alarmed for its safety. Stuart, he said, was 
coming on as rapidly as possible, but the enemy were between him and the 
city. 

59 



466 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

ortlered the army to prepare to follow at night-fall. The 5th 
corps was to move off at dai'k, and by a rapid march occupy 
Spottsylvania Court House ; the rest of the troops would follow 
immediately, and by the next morning General Grant hoped to 
have his army concentrated between the Confederates and their 
Capital. Warren and Hancock were to move by the Brock 
road, and Sedgwick and Burnside by a longer route through 
Chancellorsville. The trains were gotten off safely, and at dark 
the 5th corps began its march. 

The movement of the trains, however, had aroused General 
Lee's suspicions, and during the afternoon he became convinced 
that Grant meditated a change of position. Being uncertain, 
however, whether the Federal commander was moving upon 
Richmond or Fredericksburg, General Lee directed General 
E,. H. Anderson, commanding Longstreet's corps, to withdraw 
from his position in the intrenched line, and be in readiness to 
march upon Spottsylvania Court House in the morning. An- 
derson promptly drew out his men, and endeavored to find a 
suitable place for a bivouac, but, being unsuccessful in tliis ef- 
fort, owing to the burning woods, and thinking it would be well 
to gain as much time as possible, he determined to take the re- 
sponsibility of commencing his march without delay, and ac- 
cordingly set out that night at about ten o'clock.* 

The next day General Lee being satisfied that the whole Fed- 
eral army was in motion, marched with Ewell's and Hill's corps 
to join Anderson. f General Grant in his report states that Lee 
moved by the shorter line, but in this he is mistaken. The 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 441. 

t " Headquarters Army Northerjt Virginia, 
" May 8, 1864. 

" noifORABLE Secretary of War : 

" The enemy have abandoned their position, and are marching towards 

Fredericksburg. I am moving on their right flank. 

(Signed) E. E. Lee." 



SrOTTSYLVANIA COUKT HOUSE. 467 

road by which tlic Confederates reached Spottsylvania is about 
of equal length with the Brock road, or if any shorter the dif- 
ference is less than a mile. 

Anderson marched all night, and early the next morning, the 
8th, arrived at the heights around Spottsylvania Court House, 
^\ here he found Fitz Lee's cavalry hotly engaged with Warren's 
advancing columns. In order to impede Grant's progress, the 
cavalry had been thrown out on the 7th, Avith orders to hold the 
Brock road, as long as possible and endeavor by every means 
in their power to harass the enemy on their march. Thesa 
instructions were well carried out, and from Todd's Tavern on 
the Brock road to the immediate vicinity of Spottsylvania Court 
House, Fitz Lee contested the road stubbornly witii the enemy, 
barricading it in many places with fallen trees, and inflicting 
severe loss upon the parties sent to clear away these obstacles. 

AVhen Anderson reached Spottsylvania Court House on the 
morning of the 8th, he found it in possession of a detachment 
of Federal cavalry, which had succeeded in occupying the 
village in advance of General Warren's corps. General An- 
derson immediately divided his command, sending a part of it 
to drive off the Federal cavalry from the village, and hurrying 
with the rest to the relief of Fitz Lee. 

Warren continued to press on, thinking that the force in his 
front was nothing but the dismounted cavalry he had been 
driving before him all night ; but as his advanced division com- 
menced to ascend the ridge on which Anc'eroua had iormed his 
line, it was met with such a withering discharge of musketry 
that it broke and rushed back in confusion, with the loss of its 
commander, who was severely wounded. At the same time the 
Federal cavalry were driven from the Court House, and Ander- 
son, bringing his whole force into line prepared to hold the 
position which both armies sought so eagerly. General Warren 
hurried up the remainder of his corps, consisting of Crawford's, 



4G8 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Griffin's, and Cutler's (Wadsworth's) divisions, and made a 
spirited attack upon Anderson's two divisions, but was unable 
to carry the position.* 

After this repulse Warren remained in front of Anderson's 
line, and commenced to intrench, being unwilling to risk a new 
attack until the arrival of reenforcements. In the afternoon he 
was joined by the 6th corps, under General Sedgwick, but it 
was almost dark before the enemy completed their dispositions 
for another attack. Just about dusk Crawford's division was 
thrown forward, but was repulsed with heavy loss. E well's 
corps commenced to take position as Crawford began his attack, 
and the enemy striking it suddenly while it was marching by 
the flank, drove it back some distance, capturing about one 
hundred prisoners, but were unable to follow up their advantage 
and suffered more than they had gained by their attack, f 

During the night all of Ewell's corps came up, and the next 
morning General Hill arrived, but being disabled by sickness 
was compelled to relinquish the command of his corps tempo- 
rarily to General Early. 

* The following is General Lee's bulletin to the W^r Department : 

*' Keae Spoitstlvania C. n. — 2.30, p. M., 
rto Oeaxoe C. H. 

"To HON. J. A. SEDDON: 

" After a sharp encounter with the 5th army corps, (Warren's) and Torbert's 
division of cavalry, General R. H. Anderson, with the advance of the army, 
repulsed the enemy with heavy slaughter, and took possession of the Court 
House. 

" I am most thankful to the Giver of all victory that our loss is small. 

R. E. Lee, General." 

f'HEADQUAETEKS AEMT NOETHEEK VIKGINIA, 
May, 8, 18&t.— 9 P. M. 
'•UOli-. SECKETAET OP WAK: 

" After the repulse of the enemy from Spottsylvania Court House, this 
morning, receiving reenforcements, he renewed the attack on our position, 
but was again handsomely driven back. 

R. E. Lee, General" 



It 
SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 469 

On Monday morning, May 9th, the enth'e Federal army was 
concentrated before Spottsylvania Com-t House ; but under very 
different circumstances from those hoped for by General Grant 
when the march began. That officer had been thwarted again 
in his designs by General Lee, and he now found the Confed- 
erate army in the position he had hoped to gain, and barring 
his advance as thoroughly as it had done in the Wilderness. 
He might have moved still farther to the right, and have 
manoeuvred Lee out of his position ; but, being anxious to 
carry out his programme of "attrition," he resolved to attack 
the Confederate line, and drive General Lee from the heights. 

The line held by General Lee was very strong. It extended 
along a range of heights, enclosing SiDOttsylyania Court House in 
a semi-circle, and running almost due north at Longstreet's posi- 
tion, and sweeping around to the west and south along Ewelfs 
and Hill's lines. The crest was crowned witli strono- earth- 
works protected by a formidable abatis, and the approaches, made 
difficult by the low, dense undergrowth in front, were swept at 
all points by the fire of both infimtry and artillery. Anderson's 
corps formed tlie right, stretching from the Eiver Po, northward 
to the Court House. Ewell was in the centre, with his line 
running almost east and west, and Hill held the left, with his 
left flank slightly, drawn back towards the south. 

The Federal line was formed with Warren and Sedgwick in 
the centre, Hancock on the right, and Burnside on the left. 
The greater portion of the 9th was occupied by the enemy in 
getting their troops into position. The Confederate sharp- 
shooters kept up an active fire upon them, and among others 
killed General Sedgwick, the commander of the 6th corps, and 
the ablest and most esteemed of all the subordinate generals in 
the Federal army. 

Between Hancock's position and that held by General Hill's 
corps was tlie valley of tlie river Po, and through this valley 



470 LIFE of GENERAL LEE. 

wound one of the brandies of this stream. During the after- 
noon of the 9th, Hancock was directed to cross the river, and 
endeavor to intercept a Confederate wagon train which was seen 
beyond the stream, moving into Spottsylvania Court House. 
He succeeded in passing the Po, about three miles west of the 
Court House. The river was at that point defended by a small 
force, but before he could penetrate over a few hundred yards 
beyond it, it was too dark to attempt anything further, and 
durincj the ni^ht the Southern was^ons were taken into General 
Lee's lines in safety. 

The next morning, the 10th, General Hancock continued to 
advance, and discovered A. P. Hill's corps strongly intrenched 
alons: the east bank of the Po, and commandino' the crossinsrs of 
the river. About lialf past two o'clock Hancock received 
orders to withdraw across the Po to his original position, and, 
while engaged in this movement, Barlow's division, which was 
covering his withdrawal, was attacked by Heth's division of 
Hill's corps, and driven with heavy loss for some distance. 
Barlow succeeded, however, in rejoining his corps, and Heth's 
men were withdrawn to their original line. 

While Hancock's movement on the extreme Federal right had 
been going on. General Warren, with the 5th corps, was 
engaged in assaulting the position of Field's division which 
constituted Hill's right. Twelve assaults were made by the 
enemy, and each one was repulsed with loss to them. AVheu 
Hancock was withdrawn across the Po, he was directed to unite 
tis corps with the 5th, for a decisive charge upon Field. At 
live o'clock these two corps made a fierce attack upon Field's 
line, and at first succeeded in gaining possession of the first line 
of breastworks ; but they were quickly dislodged from the 
works, and driven down the hill with heavy loss. Another 
charge was made just before dark, and was repulsed with even 
more promptness and decision. The Federals fought gallantly, 
but they gained no advantage. 



SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 471 

About the same time a part of the 6tli corps assailed the 
division of General Rodes, on the left of Ewell's position, and 
broke his line, gaining possession of tlie works, together with 
nine hundred prisoners and six guns. Rodes ralUed his men, 
and falling suddenly upon the enemy drove them out of the 
works, recaptured his guns, and reestablished his line. 

At dark the firing ceased, tlie enemy having failed in all 
their assaults.* 

These attacks on his left induced General Lee to believe that 
Grant's main effort would be made in that quarter, and during 
the night of the 10th and the greater part of the 11th he moved 
troops from other points to strengthen that wing. General 
Grant, however, had decided that the Southern left was too 
strong to be successfully assailed, and had detected the weak 
point in Lee's line. He at once determined to attack it with 
Hancock's corps, supported by his whole army, and spent the 
11 til in making his dispositions for the battle. 

• " spotisvlvaxia court house, t*» 
Gl'inea's, May 11. 
" Honorable Secretary of War : 

" General Grant's army is intrenched near this place on both sides of tlie 
Brock road. Frequent skirmishing occurred yesterday, and to-day each 
army is endeavoring to discover the position of the other. To-day the enemy 
shelled our lines, and made several assaults with infantry against different 
points, particularly on our left, held by General A. P. Hill. The last, which 
occurred after sunset, was the most obstinate, some of the enemy leaping 
over the breastworks. They were easily repulsed, except in front of Dole's 
brigade, where they drove our men from their position, and from a four-gun 
battery there posted. The men were soon rallied, and by dark our line was 
reestablished and the battery recovered. 

" A large body of the enemy moved around our left, on tlie evening of the 
9th, and took possession of the road about midwav between Shady Grove 
Church and the Court House. General Early, with a part of Hill's corps, 
drove tliem back this evening, taking one gun and a few prisoners. Thanks 
to a merciful Providence, our casualties have been small. Among tiie 
wounded are Brigadier-Generals Hays and H. H. Walker. 

" R. E. Lee." 



472 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

The point which he chose for his next attack was in the right 
centre of the Southern line. It was a salient which had been 
thrown out to cover a hill a few hundred yards in front of the 
general line, and to prevent the enemy from occupying it Avith 
their artillery. It was an unfortunate piece of engineering 
that included this hill in E well's intrenchments, as the sequel 
will show. Past the hill on the north side swept a ravine, 
which presented a convex line to the hill, the two approacliing 
each other like circles that touch but do not cut each other. 
This salient was held by the division of General Edward John- 
son, of General Ewell's corps. Through some mistake, on the 
night of the 11th, General Johnson's artillery was withdrawn 
from his line, thus leaving him to hold it with only his infantry. 
General Johnson detected the concentration of the enemy in 
his front, about midnight, and informed General Ewell of it, at 
the same time asking to have his artillery sent back to him. 
General Ewell promptly ordered the guns back, but it was 
nearly five o'clock before they began to get into position again, 
and before they were ready for action the battle opened. 

Hancock had massed his corps in front of the position of 
General Johnson on the night of the 11th, and at half past 
four o'clock on the morning of the 12th of May, began his ad- 
vance, taking advantage of the ravine to shelter his troops as 
they approached the Southern works. With an impetuous 
rush the Federals poured over the breastworks, and were met 
by Johnson's troops in a stubborn hand-to-hand fight. Only 
two pieces of Johnson's artillery had been unlimbered, and 
these were of but little use. After a desperate resistance his 
line was overwhelmed. Over three thousand prisoners, includ- 
ing Generals Johnson and G. H. Stewart, and twenty-five 
pieces of cannon were captured, and the enemy remained in 
posession of the works. 

Elated by his success, Hancock pressed on towards the in- 



SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 473 

tcrlor line of works which had been thrown up in the rear of 
Johnson's position. He had cut the Southern line in two, and 
there was danger that he would drive the wings apart if not 
checked. General Gordon, commanding Early's division, 
promptly threw forward his troops, and Rodes and A\'ilcox 
hurried forward to his assistance. This force gallantly met the 
eager advance of the enemy, and forced them back. For hours 
the battle raged with great fury, the enemy endeavoring to 
break the new line, and meeting a bloody repulse each time 
they advanced. 

Supposing, from the determination with which General Lee 
maintained his ground, that the other portions of the Confed- 
erate line had been greatly weakened to furnish troops for the 
right centre. General Grant ordered Generals Warren and 
Burnside at eio;ht o'clock to attack the Southern riofht and 
left wings. These officers assaulted vigorously, but were re- 
pulsed with much loss. 

The battle continued throughout the entire day, and did not 
cease altogether until midnight, when General Lee drew in his 
lines on the interior position. He had failed to recapture the 
works won from Johnson, but the enemy had been confined 
to them and foiled in all their efforts to penetrate farther, or to 
break the line at other points. 

The Southern losses were very heavy during the engage- 
ments up to this period, but ihey were nothing like those of 
the Federal army. General Grant had "hammered away" 
nearly a third of his army, but he was not discouraged. After 
the great battle of the 12th he wrote to his Government : 

" We have now ended the sixth day of very heavy fighting. 
The result to this time is much in our favor. Our losses 
have been very heavy, as well as those of the enemy. I think 
the loss of the enemy must be greater. We have taken over 
five thousand prisoners in battle, while he has taken from us but 
60 



474 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

few except stragglers. I propose to fight it out on this line if 
it takes all summer." 

General Lee having now retired to an interior and shortei 
line, General Grant determined to move around to his right, 
and try to force that wing back. General Warren was sent 
over to the right to unite with Burnside, which he succeeded in 
doing after an arduous night march on the loth. On the 14th, 
the 5th and 9th corps made a vigorous attack on AVilcox's 
division and were " handsomely repulsed." Later in the day 
Lane's and Mahone's brigades made a dash at the enemy's left, 
capturing four hundred prisoners and several standards, and 
almost taking General Meade prisoner. The remainder of the 
day was spent in skirmishing, which grew heavier towards twi- 
light.* 

The 6th corps was moved over to tlie Federal left, on the 
14th, and this, changing General Grant's entire position, ne- 
cessitated the opening of a new base at Aquia Creek, which 
was accomplished on the 16th of May.f Previous to this the 
enemy drew their supplies from Port Royal. 

General Grant now determined to make another effort against 

* " Spottsylva^'ia Court house, May 14, 
via guinea's Station, May 15. 

" The enemy assaulted Wilcox's lines this morning and was handsomely 
repulsed. Mahone's and Lane's brigades attacked his left, capturing three 
hundred prisoners, and four stands of colors. Light skirmishing along tlie 
whole line during the day. The enemy seems to be moving toward our right. 
In the afternoon Wright's and Harris' brigades assaulted his left, and captured 
some prisoners and a stand of colors. 

E.E.Lee." 

t"SPOTTSYi,vANiA Cooi:t House, 
tiia Guinea's Station, May IG, 18(H. 
"To Ills Excellency Pkesident Davis: 

" The enemy has made no movement against our position to-day. He lias 
retired his right and extended his left towards Massaponax Church, occupying 
the line of theNy river, his main force being apparently east of that stream. 
(Signed,) R. E. Lee." 



THE MARCH TO THE CHICKAHOMIN Y . 475 

Ewell's line, and on the 18th threw forward Hancock's, Burn- 
side's, and Wright's (6th) corps against the works in the rear 
of the salient Hancock had carried on the 12th. The enemy 
pressed forward until they reached the abatis in front of the 
Southern works, when they were brought to a stand by this 
formidable obstacle, and broken by the heavy fire of the Con- 
federates. Finding their task a hopeless one, they fell back 
and abandoned the attack.* 

The losses of the Federal army since the passage of the Rap- 
idan, now amounted to more than forty thousand men, and the 
troops began to grow dispirited. It was certain that the Con- 
federate army could not be forced from its position on the 
heights of Spottsylvania, and there was but one way to dislodge 
it, — to move towards Richmond. This General Grant deter- 
mined to do. 



IV. 

THE MARCH TO THE CHICKAHOMINY. 

General Grant began his preparations to withdraw on the 
afternoon of the 19th. This movement was observed by General 
Lee, who threw out Ewell's corps, and struck tlie Federal 
left a severe blow, forcing General Grant to delay his move 
ment until the night of the 2 1st, when it was commenced. f 

• " SroTTSYLVAXIA COURT HOfSE, May 18, 7 p. M 
via MiLFOKD, lOtli. 

" Hon. J. A. Seddox, seceetary of War : 

" The enemy opened his batteries on a portion of Ewell's line, and attempted 

an assault, but failed. He was easily repulsed. Subsequently he cannonaded 

a portion of Hill's lines, under Early. The casualties on our side are very 

few. 

11. E. Lee." 

f General Grant's Eeport, p. 7. 



476 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Feeling assured that Grant was moving to occupy the line 
of the North Anna, General Lee left his position at Spottsyl- 
vania, and marching rapidly by a shorter route than that chosen 
by the Federal army, reached the south side of the North Anna 
before Grant arrived at Milford, at w^hich place the Federal 
advance encamped on the 22nd of May. On the morning of 
the 23rd the Federal army reached the North Anna River, but 
only to behold its old antagonist in position on the south side, 
and ready to meet it again. 

The position which General Lee held here was an important 
one. Less than two miles back of the river was Hanover 
Junction, the point of intersection of the Virginia Central 
and Richmond and Fredericksburg railroads. The possession 
of the former road was important to the Confederates, as it was 
their only direct line of communication with the Shenandoah 
Valley. 

Nothing daunted, however, General Grant determined to 
force a passage of the river, and " hammer away " at this posi- 
tion also. General Hancock was on the Federal left, and 
General Warren on the right. The position of the former 
brought liim opposite the crossings of the Fredericksburg Rail- 
road and Telegraph (old stage) road, while the latter was in 
fi'ont of Jericho Ford about six miles to the right of the railroad 
bridge. Both of these commanders were ordered to effect a 
passage of the river. Jericho Ford was unguarded, but the 
Telegraph bridge was defended by a small force. Warren 
passed over unmolested, and advanced towards the Central 
Railroad. Near Noel's Station, he was encountered by Wil- 
cox's division of A. P. Hill's corps. Hill brought up his other 
divisions as rapidly as possible, and in a brisk engagement 
forced General Warren to halt for the rest of the day. 

At the same time Hancock, moving forward on the Federal 
left, made a sharp attack on the three regiments guarding the 



THE MARCH TO THE CHICKAHOMINY. 477 

Telegraph bridge, and drove them over the river, gaining pos- 
session of the bridge, which he held during the night, repulsing 
several attempts of the Confederates to destroy it.* The next 
morning, the 24th, Hancock's corps crossed to the south side 
of the river. 

If General Grant supposed that he was now in a position to 
attack General Lee with a prospect of success, he was destined 
to disappointment. Feeling assured of the strength of his po- 
sition. General Lee had made no effort to resist General War- 
ren's passage of the river, and only checked him until his own 
line could be thoroughly established. On his right he had 
simply lured General Hancock over the river, and on the 
morning of the 24th, he was sincerely desirous that General 
Grant should attack him. 

The reader will see by a glance at the map that the Telegraph 
bridge and Jericho Ford are about six miles apart. About a 
mile above the former are the Oxford Mills. At this point, Gen- 
eral Lee established his centre, clinging close to the river. His 
right stretched back beyond Piano ver Junction, in an almost due 
southerly course, and rested on a series of extensive and impen- 
etrable marshes, while his left, running almost due west, rested 
on Little River. Both flanks were thus made secure by marshes 
and rivers, and the rest of the line was strongly intrenched. 
The centre resting on the North Anna was interposed directly 
between the right and left wings of the Federal army, cutting 
off all communication between them south of the river. Lee's 
right faced nearly eastward towards Hancock's, and his left 

* " Hanovek Junction, Mny 23, 10 v. m. 
"Ilojr. James A. SeudON: 

" About noon to-day the enemy approached the Telegraph bridge on the 
North Anna. In the afternoon he attacked the guard at the bridge and drove 
it to this side. About the same time the 5th corps (General Warren's) 
crossed at Jericho Ford, on our left, and was attacked by General A. P. Hill 
and its advance checked. R. E. Lee." 



478 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

westward towards Warren's and Wright's corps, his line form- 
ing two sides of an obtuse-angled triangle. While he held 
this position it would be impossible for General Grant to attack 
him, except with a part of his forces, without making a double 
passage of the rivp', while the Confederates could concentrate 
on any endangered part of their line, or mass their forces and 
fall upon either the Federal right or left, at the same time pre- 
venting tlie other wing from going to its assistance. The con- 
ception was masterly, and without a blow defeated all General 
Grant's plans for an advance south of the North Anna, and 
also endangered the safety of the separated wings of his army. 

In order to remedy this, General Burnside was ordered, on 
the 25th, to cross with the 9th corps at Oxford Mills, drive 
back Lee's centre from the river, and establish communication 
between Warren and Hancock. Burnside succeeded in crossing 
one division which was so roughly handled that he was com- 
pelled to withdraw it, and Warren in attempting to extend his 
left down the river to communicate with Burnside, was so vig- 
orously assailed by Hill's troops that it was with difficulty that 
the division (Crawford's) endeavoring to accomplish this, could 
be brought off.* 

General Lee had selected his position with great care, and 
his skill was richly rewarded. General Grant had gotten over 
the river, and into the trap set for him, but he was powerless to 
move forward, and might be equally unable to go back. See- 
ing his danger. General Grant wisely concluded to withdraw at 

* The following dispatch partly relates the events of the 25th : 

•' Tayloksville, May £5, 9.30 P. M. 
" Hos. James A. Seddon: 

" The enemy have been making feeble attacks upon our lines to-day, prob- 
ably with a view of ascertaining our position. They were easily repulsed. 

" General Mahone drove three regiments across the river, capturing a stand 
of colors and some prisoners, among them an aid-de-camp of General Ludlow. 

E. E. Lee." 



THE aiAECII TO THE CHICKAHOMINT. 479 

once. Had General Lee's army been strong enough to permit 
him to assume the offensive then and there, the Federal com- 
mander would have found that it was a much easier matter to get 
into such a predicament than to get out of it, but it being Gen- 
eral Lee's first duty to husband carefully the limited i*esources 
at his command, he was compelled by the weakness of his force 
to allow his antagonist to withdraw in safety. 

On the night of the 26th of May, the Federal army with- 
drew in silence across the North Anna. 

The Federal commander had been again baffled in his efforts 
to throw his army upon Lee's line of communication, and he 
now resolved to make a last effort to cut the Confederates off 
from Richmond before they should reach the defences of that 
city. Accordingly he directed his march towards the Pamun- 
key, which is formed by the union of the North and South 
Anna Rivers. To effect this march it was necessary to cut loose 
from his base at Port Royal ; but he would be compensated for 
this by establishing a new base at the White House, near the 
mouth of the Pamunkey, which had served McClellan for a 
similar purpose in 1862. He intended crossing the Pamunkey 
at Hanovertown, twenty miles northeast of Richmond, and 
then trying to throw his army over the Chickahominy before 
Lee could interfere, when the city would be at his mercy. But 
if, after passing the Chickahominy, he found the prospect of 
capturing Richmond unfavorable, he could move direct to tlie 
James River and unite his army with that of General Butler, 
then operating south of that river. On the night of the 26th, 
the 6th corps and Sheridan's cavalry commenced the movement, 
and crossed the Pamunkey at Hanovertown on the morning 
of the 27th, readily driving off the small party of Confederate 
cavalry on the opposite bank. By the morning of the 28th 
the whole Federal army v/as south of the Pamunkey, 

" Hanovertown Ferry is northeast of Richmond twenty miles, 
by the most direct road, which crosses the Chickahominy at 



480 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Meadow Bridge, near the Central Railroad, and is known beyond 
the Chickahominy as the Hanovertown road. Another road to 
this ferry runs south four miles to Old Church and thence in a 
southwesterly direction by Old Cold Harbor to New Cold Har- 
bor, Gaines' Mill and New Bridge to Hichniond, entering the city 
over Union Hill. From the city to New Bridge this is known 
as the New Bridge or Nine-Mile road ; beyond the New Bridge, 
as the Cold Harbor or Old Church road. Hanovertown ferry 
is three or four miles further from Bichmond by this than the 
road previously mentioned. Hawes' Shop is three miles south 
of the ferry, on the direct road to Richmond. Hanover Court 
House is situated northwest of the ferry some eight or ten 
miles. — Another road from Richmond to Hanovertown Ferry is 
the Mechanicsville, which leaves the city by Howard's Grove, 
ci'osses the Chickahominy a couple of miles east of Meadow 
Bridge, and passing Dr. Lumpkin's residence, a point six miles 
from the city, known as Mechanicsville, falls into the Hanover- 
town road six miles further on and a mile north of Tottapotamoi 
Creek. Atlee's Station, on the Central Railroad, is nine miles 
north of Richmond and three miles northwest of Mechanicsville. 
From Atlee's to Old Cold Harbor on the Old Church road, as 
the crow flies, the distance is about nine miles ; by county roads 
it is several miles further. Tottapotamoi Creek rises near At- 
lee's Station, and running southeast to Poll Green Meeting 
House, turns thence northeast and empties into the Pamunkey 
two miles below Hanovertown. Old Cold Harbor is ten miles 
from Richmond ; New Cold Harbor, on the same road, is from a 
mile and a half to two miles nearer the city, and Gaines' Mill yet 
a quarter of a mile nearer. The country between Hanovertown 
and Mechanicsville by the direct road consists of large cleared 
fields and patches of heavy forest, there being no streams worthy 
of note except the Tottapotamoi ; on the Old Church road the 
country is more wooded." * 

♦ Richmond Examiner, June 13, 18G4. 



THE MARCH TO THE CHICK:AH0MINY. 481 

The witlidrawal of the enemy was discovered by General Lee 
on the morning of the 28th, and as soon as it was ascertained 
that Grant was moving towards the Pamunkey, General Ewell 
was sent off towards Hawes' Shop to prevent him from reaching 
the Chickahominy, and the whole army followed immediately. 
Ewell reached his position near Hawes' Shop late on the 27th, 
and the next day was rejoined by the army. 

On the 28th, General Grant threw forward his cavalry to 
Hawes' Shop, and supported it by strong detachments of infantry. 
Fitz Lee, who was temporarily in command of the Confederate 
cavalry, was advanced to meet this force, and ascertain if Grant's 
whole army had crossed at Hanovertown. Fitz Lee attacked 
Sheridan and drove him back upon his infantry supports, and 
then, having accomplished the objects of the reconnoisance, 
drew off his command in the direction of Richmond. The 
29th, and 30th were occupied by General Grant in reconnoiter- 
ing his adversary's position. Heavy skirmishing was of frequent 
occurrence between the two armies. On the afternoon of the 
30th, General Hancock's corps developed the position of the 
Southern army, which had been carefully selected on the south 
side of Tottapotamoi Creek. Hancock crossed the creek, 
and advanced towards E well's line, but was driven back, after 
a sharp fight, to his own army in front of Hawes' Shop. 

The hostile lines now stretched east and west over an extent 
of country about ten miles in length — the Confederates behind 
the Tottapotamoi, with their left at Atlee's Station on the Cen- 
tral Railroad, their centre in front of Mechanicsville, and their 
right at Cold Harbor on the Chickahominy ; the Federals, on 
the north bank of the creek, threatening Atlee's Station with 
their right, and gradually moving their left towards the Chicka- 
hominy. 

61 



482 lv«-E OF GENERAL LEE. 



V. 

THE SECOND BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR. 

General Grant's first intention seems to have been to force a 
passage of the Chickahominy, at or in the neighborhood of 
Meadow Bridge, but, finding that this could not be effected 
without driving tlie Confederate army from its position whicli 
covered this bridge, as well as that at Mechanicsville, and the 
New Bridge, he determined to move around Lee's right, and 
attempt to pass the river at Cold Harbor. Upon reaching the 
Pamunkey, General Grant had directed General Butler to send 
him all the men he could spare. Butler detached a force of 
sixteen thousand men, under General W. F. Smith, and sent it 
in transports to the White House, where it debarked on the 
30th of May. General Grant now ordered General Smith to 
move out from the White House and occupy New Cold Harbor. 
A mistake was made in the order, and Smith was sent to New- 
castle on the Pamunkey, ten or fifteen miles out of the way. 
Discovering the mistake in his orders, he countermarched his 
corps, and arrived in the neighborhood of New Cold Harbor, 
where the 6th corps had just come up, on the afternoon of 
June 1st.* 

Meanwhile General Lee had been reenforced by Brecken- 
ridge's command of two thousand men from • the Valley of Vir- 
ginia, and Hoke's and Pickett's divisions from Beauregard's 
army south of the James. This brought his force to about 
forty-four thousand men of all arms, and barely covered his 
losses in the campaign. While holding his line on the Totta- 
potamoi he Kad also been careful to watch the Federal left, as 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 482. 



THE SECOND BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR. 483 

he was convinced that Grant would endeavor to secure the 
bridges in the rear of Cold Harbor. Grant had scarcely put 
the 6th corps in motion before the march was discovered by 
General Lee. Anderson was at once dispatched with Kershaw's 
division to occupy the heights around New Cold Harbor and 
Gaines' Mill, and Hoke's division was hurried to his assistance. 
Later in the day a part of Hill's corps and Breckenridge's divi- 
sion were also sent to New Cold Harbor. 

After leaving Gaiiies' Mill, on Powhite Creek, the road from 
Richmond to Cold Harbor ascends a lonsr, hisrh hill. Near the 
brow of this hill, stands New Cold Harbor, and from this point 
to Old Cold Harbor, about a mile and a half to the southwest, 
is a very gently sloping plain. The ridge of this hill or high 
land runs from New Cold Harbor in a southeasterly direction, 
and ends abruptly three hundred yards from the Chickahominy, 
at the bridge by which General McClellan withdrew his defeated 
troops after the first battle in June 1862, ten miles from Rich- 
mond. 

On the night of the 31st of May, General Sheridan occupied 
Old Cold Harbor with his cavalry, and threw out a strong de- 
tachment to seize the heights at New Cold Harbor to gain which 
the 6th Federal corps, and Anderson's Confederate corps were 
hastening. Anderson came up on the 1st of June, with Ker- 
shaw's and Hoke's divisions, and attacking Sheridan drove him 
back towards Old Cold Harbor, and secured the heights around 
New Cold Harbor and Gaines' Mill, wdiich he at once pro- 
ceeded to fortify. Breckenridge and Heth also arrived by noon, 
and by two o'clock the heights were held by a force too strong 
to be driven from them without a general enijagement. 

In the afternoon, the 6th corps and the corps of General 
Smith reached Old Cold Harbor. General Meade, who had 
established his headquarters at that place, gave orders for an 
immediate attack for the purpose of gaining possession of the 



484 LITE OF GENERAL LEE. 

heights. At four o'clock Wright and Smith attacked a part 
of Hill's line immediately behind Old Cold Harbor. They 
succeeded in carrying the first line of rifle pits, but were driven 
from them. They fell back only a few hundred yards, how- 
ever, and immediately commenced to fortify their position.* 

The next day, June 2nd, General Grant directed General 
Burnside to withdraw his corps from the Tottapotamoi, and 
take position at Cold Harbor. Warren's corps was to cover 
the movement, after which it was to follow Burnside to the 
Ohickahominy. While this movement was in process of execu- 
tion, Ewell's corps moved around by the Mechanicsville road, 
and fell upon Warren's right near Bethesda Church, driving it 
in with vigor. Pressing on, three strongly intrenched lines 
were carried, and the enemy driven back for nearly a mile, 
with the loss of over five hundred prisoners. 

The night of the first and the whole of the second of June 
were spent by the Confederates in strengthening their position, 
so that by dark on the second, the line which they held was even 
stronger than that they had occupied at Spottsylvania Court 
House. Their right was within a few hundred yards of the 
Chickahominy on the New Cold Harbor ridge, the interval 
between being occupied by an impassable swamp, and their 

* " headquarteks Army or Northern Virginia, 
June 1, 1864, r. m. 

" Hon. Secretary of War : 

" There has been skirmishing along tlie lines to-day. General Anderson 
and General Hoke attacked the enemy in their front this forenoon, and drove 
them to their intrenchments. This afternoon the enemy attacked General 
Heth and were handsomely repulsed by Cooke's and Kirkland's brigades. 
Generals Breckcnridge and IMahone drove the enemy from their front, taking 
about one hundred and fifty prisoners. A force of infantry is reported to have 
arrived at Tunstall's station from the White House, and to be extending up 
the York River Eailroad. They state that they belong to Butler's forces. 

*' Respectfully, 

" R. E. Lee, General." 



THE SECOND BATTLE OF COLD IIAitBOR. 485 

left extended over to the Tottapotamol, making their line about 
six miles in length. Anderson's corps, and the divisions of 
Breckinridge and Hoke, and a part of Hill's corps held the 
works on the Cold Harbor ridge, and the remainder of Hill's 
troops and Ewell's corps held the centre and left. The Fed- 
eral line was somewhat longer. The right, under General 
Burnside, was near Bethesda Church, the left was in front of 
McGehee's house, under Hancock, and the Interval was filled 
with the corps of Wright, Smith and Warren, In the order 
named. Sheridan's cavalry was thrown out on the left of Han- 
cock, from Dispatch Station to the neighborhood of Bottom's 
Bridge. 

Both armies were in position by nightfall on W^ednesday, 
June 2d, and General Grant determined to assault the Southern 
lines at dawn the next morning. There was much to inspire both 
armies in the conflict. The ground on which the battle was to 
be fought was the same that had been made memorable by the 
battle between Lee and McClellan two years previous. The 
positions of the anules, however, were changed. Lee, in 1864, 
held almost the same line that he won from McClellan in 1862 ; 
while Grant held the greater portion of the old line of the Con- 
federates ; the Federals this time attacking, and the Confederates 
defending, the Cold Harbor ridge. 

At half-past four o'clock on Thursday morning, June 3d, just 
as the breaking day gave light enough to guide the troops, the 
battle began. The attack was made simultaneously along the 
whole line. Hancock opened the engagement by a sudden rush 
against the works held by Brecken ridge's command on the ex- 
treme right of the Confederate line, driving the troops from 
them, and gaining possession of three guns of Reld's battery, 
which were at once turned upon the Confederates. Instantly 
Breckenrldjre's men rallied on Finnegan's Florida brigade which 



486 LIFE OF GENEEAIi ILEE. 

dashed forward with a yell. A fierce struggle took place in the 
works, and, in a quarter of an hour after tlie attack began, 
Hancock was driven back, and Breckenridge's line reestablished. 
Not discouraged by this repulse, however, Hancock made re- 
peated attempts, in as many as seven distinct charges, to carry 
Anderson's works, but each time was driven back with fearful 
loss. 

The corps of Generals Wright and Smith were hotly engaged 
on Hancock's right. They endeavoured again and again to carry 
the works in front of them (a part of Anderson's line), but in 
vain. They lost heavily, and could with difficulty maintain the 
new position which they had taken up in advance of their orig- 
inal position of the morning. 

The attack on Early, on the left, was less vigorous. Warren 
had been too severely handled on the afternoon of the 2d to 
attempt much, and Burnside spent the best part of the morning 
in getting his men into position to assail Early's extreme left, 
under General Heth. He made two attacks on Heth's line, 
which were easily repulsed. 

The battle ended between eleven and twelve o'clock. Eveiy 
attack of the enemy had been successfully repelled, and the fight 
closed with the Confederates in full possession of their works. 
The Southern loss was insignificant, — scarcely twelve hundred, 
if so much, — while on the side of the Federals the losses reached 
the enormous sum of thirteen thousand men.* 

While the engagement was in progress, the cavalry, under 
General Hampton, who had been appointed to succeed the 
lamented Stuart, were thrown out on Ewell's left. Moving 
towards Hawes' Shop, they encountered the cavalry division of 
General Wilson, of the Federal Army, strongly posted at that 
place. Hampton attacked them with a part of Gen. W. H. F. 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 487. 



THE SECOND BATTLE OF COID HARBOR. 487 

Lee's division, and drove them back rpon Warren's corps, 
inflicting considerable loss upon them.* 

The only change made in the Southern line after the battle 
was the withdrawal of Breckenridge's troops from the salient 
they had lost and regained. The line was straightened, and 
this weak point removed. When this was a'^complished, Breck- 
enridge, about nine o'clock that night, advanced his skirmish line 
to its original position. Immediately the en-emy drove it in, at 
the same time making an effort to carry the line of battle. 
They were promptly repulsed. An attack \ras then made on 
Hoke's line with a like result. The firing tJv^n ceased for the 
night, f 

• " Headquarters Army Xortheen Vikoikia. 
" Jtf 6 3,1804 — 8.35, P.M. 
"Hoir. Secretary of War: 

" About it, A. M., to-day, the enemy made an attack upon tlie right of our 
line. In front of General Hoke and part of General Breckenridge's line he 
was repulsed without difficulty. He succeeded in penetrating a salient in 
General Breckenridge's line and captured a portion of t^e batallion there 
posted. 

" General Finnegan's brigade of Mahone's division, and the Maryland bat- 
talion of Breckenridge's command, immediately drove the enemy out with 
severe loss. Repeated attacks were made upon General Andrrson's position, 
chiefly against his right, under General Kershaw. They were met with great 
steadiness and repulsed in every instance. The attack extended to our ex- 
treme left, under General Early, with like results. Later in the day it was 
twice renewed against General Heth, who occupied Early's left but was re- 
pulsed with loss. 

" General Hampton encountered the enemy's cavalry near Ilawes' Shop, and 

a part of General William H. E. Lee's division drove them from their intrench- 

ments. Our loss to-day has been small, and our success, under tl"? blessing 

of God, all that we could expect. 

Respectfully, 

R. E. Lee, General." 

+ "Headquarters Armt KoRTHERif Vi^oiinA, 
June 4, 1864, 8.30., P. M. 

"HON. SECRETARY OP WAR: 

" Last night, after the date of my dispatch. Generals Breckenridge and Fin- 
ncgan were attacked by the enemy as they were preparing to reestablish tij^r 



488 LIFE or GENERAL LEE. 

The failure of the main attack on the morning of the 3rd dis- 
heartened the Federal troops to a great extent. In the after- 
noon General Meade, wishing to renew the battle, directed each 
of his corps commanders to attack again without reference to 
the troops on his right or left. The order was transmitted to 
the army through the usual channels, and the word given to 
advance, but the men stood still, refusing to move, and turning 
deaf ears to the commands and entreaties of their officers.* 
They were convinced that it was impossible to carry the South- 
ern works, for they had struggled gallantly for them during the 
morning, and it is but justice to add that their conduct was 
prompted by the wisdom of veteran soldiers, and not by coav- 
ardice. 

After being repulsed in their effiarts to carry Lee's line, the Fed- 
erals fell back to a line in advance of that held by them on the 
2d of June. This they proceeded to fortify, and by the morn- 
ino- of the 4th, thev had thrown up a series of formidable 
works, and liad commenced to lay siege to the position of the 
Confederate army. The opposite works were at some points 
three hundred yards apart, at others they were separated by a 
distance of less than fifty yards. The sharpshooters of both 
armies were constantly at work, save at rare intervals, when, 
by a sort of tacit understanding, both sides would cease from 
firinsT, and o-aze at or talk with each other over their frownincj 
ramparts. These " truces," as they were called, were very 
precarious. The least thing — the accidental discharge of a 

skirmish line. Tlie enemy was soon repulsed. Immediately afterwards an 
attack was made upon General Hoke's front, with a like result. 

*' Up to the time of writing, nothing has occurred along the lines to-day, 
except skirmishing at various points. The position of the army is substan- 
tially unchanged. 

Respectfully, 

R. E. Lee, General." 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 487. 



THE SECOND BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR. 489 

musket, a shout, or ihc merest trifle — would cause tlie firing 
to be resumed, and the rumble of an empty wagon was sure to 
be followed by a cannonade. 

The enemy's dead lay between the lines of the two armies, 
and the hot sun causing them to become very offensive, General 
Grant on the morning of the 5th, sent a flag of truce to Gen- 
eral Lee, proposing that when the armies were not actually 
engaged, unarmed parties on both sides might be permitted to 
]iass between the lines to succor the wounded and bury the dead 
belonging to them. To this General Lee replied tliat none of 
his dead or wounded were unburied or uncared for between th€ 
lines ; that General Grant's proposition was irregular and could 
not be accepted ; but that he would cheerfully grant any re- 
quest from General Grant for this purpose if made in the usual 
manner. It seems that General Grant misunderstood tliis 
reply, for he sent a second flag of truce to General Lee, stating 
that he (Grant) would send forward a detail to bury his dead. 
General Lee at once notified General Grant that he had mis- 
taken his answer, and that if a burial party was sent out with- 
out first obtaining permission under a flag of truce to perform 
its work, it would be warned off by the Southern picket;;. 
General Grant then sent in a formal request for permission to 
bury his dead, and General Lee at once granted it. 

The battle of Cold Harbor was decisive. It closed the over- 
land oainpaign, and left General Grant again foiled in his effort 
to get between Lee and Richmond. In four days after the 
battle the Federal commander decided to abandon the north 
side, and transfer his forces to the south bank of tlie James. 

The campaign was a total failure. It was begun with the 
hope of flanking Lee on the Rapidan and seizing his com- 
munications at Gordousville. So fiir from accomplishing this, 
General Grant was attacked when he least expected, held back 
in the Wilderness, and compelled to abandon his original move- 
62 



490 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

ment. He then attempted to plant his army between Lee and 
Richmond at Spottsylvania Court House. In this he was 
foiled, and every effort to drive Lee from the line which barred 
the advance of the Federal army was repulsed with loss. The 
flank movement upon the North Anna was made only to find 
(he Southern army in position across the Federal line of march 
again. The renewed effort to outflank Lee by way of the 
Pamunkey also failed, and the last great effort to force the 
passage of the Chickahominy at Cold Harbor was thwarted, 
and made at the terrible cost of thirteen thousand men. Then, 
having nothing else left for him, General Grant was forced to 
abandon the campaign, and seek a new base and a new scene 
of operations south of the James. 

The losses in the campaign were very great. On the side 
of the Confederates they amounted to about eighteen thousand, 
while the Federals lost sixty thousand men, — more than ten 
thousand above the total strength of Lee's army.* 

Yet, in the face of all this, it is the habit of the majority of 
writers on the Northern side to describe the campaign as suc- 
cessful for them. I can only say that a few more such suc- 
cesses would have brought the Union cause to total ruin. 

Before passing to the narration of the movements which fol- 
lowed the battle of Cold Harbor, I must ask the reader's 
attention to matters in other quarters, bearing immediately 
upon this campaign. 



VI. 

THE CAMPAIGN IN THE VALLEY. 

The reader will remember that a part of General Grant's 
programme was for General Crook to move through South- 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 491. 



THE CAMPAIGN IN THE VALLEY. 401 

western Virginia, and destroy the Vii'glnia and Tennessee Itai!- 
road, and for Sigel to advance as far as possible up the Valley 
of Virginia and destroy the Central Eailroad. Both of these 
columns moved on the 1st of May. General Crook reached 
the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, cut it in several places, 
and then moved towards the Valley of Virginia. 

Sigel moved up the Valley, meeting but little resistance until 
the 15th of iMay, when he was attacked and defeated with 
great loss, near New Market, by the command of General 
Breckenridge. Breckenrldge drove Sigel hotly before him 
until Cedar Creek was reached, and then paused, being unable 
to continue the pursuit farther, and General Sigel escaped down 
the Valley. 

Unfortunately Breckenrldge was at this time withdrawn from 
the Valley and brought to Richmond to reenforce General Lee. 
This left the Valley defenceless, as the small force under Gen- 
eral William E. Jones, which was left behind, was Incapable 
of making a stand against any serious effort on the part of the 
Federals. 

Just as Breckenridge was withdrawn. General Sigel was re- 
moved from his command, and succeeded by General Hunter, 
who was ordered by General Grant to resume Sigel's movement, 
penetrate into the Valley as far as he could, and, if, after cap- 
turing Staunton and destroying the railroads, he found it possi- 
l)le to reach Lynchburg, to march for that place, and occupy it. 

Hunter at once began his march, and on the 5th of June at- 
tacked the little command of Genei'al Jones at Piedmont. Jones 
made a gallant resistance, but was defeated, himself killed, and 
fifteen hundred of his men — fully half of his command — and 
three pieces? of artillery captured. Hunter then marched to 
Staunton, where, on the 8th of June, he formed a junction with 
the columns of Generals Crook and Averill. 

Finding that no force of any importance lay between Staun- 



492 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

ton and Lynchburg, he set out for the latter place, mov- 
ing through Lexington. On his way he burned the Military 
Institute of Virginia and the residence of Ex-Governor Letcher, 
and during his march his men burned many private dwellings, 
and committed many other outrages upon the helpless people of 
the country — his conduct being far more brutal than that of 
General Pope in Culpepper in 1862. Hunter reached Lynch- 
burg on the IGth of June, and at once commenced his prepara- 
tions to attack the town, which was held by the small force has- 
tily collected, and to which was added the command of General 
Breckenridge. 

The news of Hunter's movement upon Lynchburg compelled 
General Lee to detach a part of his army to relieve the threat- 
ened city. Lynchburg was not only important as a depot of 
supplies, and as commanding the Confederate communications 
with Southwestern Virginia, but its occupation by the enemy 
would greatly endanger the safety of both Richmond and Peters- 
burg. The corps of General Ewell was detached for the task, 
and as General Ewell was disabled by the injuries he received 
at Manassas in the fall of 1862, and from which he never fully 
recovered, the command of the corps was given to General Early. 
Early left the Chickahominy about the 14th of June, taking with 
him about twelve thousand men, and an unusually large supply 
of artillery. Marching rapidly from the Chickahominy, he 
reached Gordonsville, where he embarked on the cars, and ar- 
rived at Lynchburg on the 17th. 

On the 18th General Hunter attacked the Confederate works 
and was repulsed. By the morning of the 19th all of Early's 
troops had arrived, and he at once advanced upon Hunter. The 
Federals were discovered in full retreat. General Hunter having 
come to the conclusion that he could secure nothing but his own 
defeat by remaining at Lynchburg. Early struck the rear of 
the Federal column a few miles beyond Lynchburg, threw it 



THE CAMPAIGN ON THE SOUTH SIDE. 493 

into confusion, and captured a number of prisoners and thirteen 
pieces of artillery. He also pressed the enemy so hard that 
General Hunter decided not to retreat through the Valley, and 
adopted a circuitous route through Western Virginia, which 
opened to Early the way for the execution of the second part of 
the instructions he had received from General Lee, and which 
will be described farther on. 

During his retreat General Hunter destroyed the Virginia and 
Tennessee Railroad, tearing up the track and burning the 
bridges, from Lynchburg to Wytheville, where Crook and 
Averill had cut it in May, — a distance of one hundred and 
thirty -five miles. The damage done was very great, but the 
road was in running order again in sixty days. 



VIL 

THE CAMPAIGN ON THE SOUTH SIDE. 

The reader will remember that a part of General Grant's 
programme was for the command of Major-General Butler to 
attack Richmond from the south side of the James River. This 
was the principal of the movements which were to be cooperat- 
ive with that of the Army of the Potomac. General Grant's 
instructions to Butler were as follows : 

" Fort Monroe, Va., April 2, 1864. 
"General : 

"In the spring campaign, which it is desirable shall com- 
mence at as early a day as practicable, it is proposed to have 
cooperative action of all the armies in the field, as far as this 
object can be accomplished. 

' ' It will not be possible to unite our armies into two or three 



494 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

large ones to act as so many units, owing to the absolute neces- 
sity of holding on to the territory already taken from the enemy. 
But, generally speaking, concentration can be practically effected 
by armies moving to the interior of the enemy's country from 
the territory they have to guaixl. By such movement they 
interpose themselves between the enemy and the country to be 
guarded, thereby reducing the number necessary to guard im- 
portant points, or at least occupy the attention of a part of the 
enemy's force, if no greater object is gained. Lee's arnry and 
Richmond being the greater objects towards which our attention 
must be directed in tlie next campaign, it is desirable to unite 
all the force we can against them. The necessity of covering 
Washington with the Army of the Potomac, and of covering 
your department with your army, makes it impossible to unite 
these forces at the beginning of any move. I propose, there- 
fore, what comes nearest this of anything that seems practicable. 
The Army of the Potomac vv^ill act from its present base, Lee's 
army being the objective point. You will collect all the forces 
from your command that can be spared from garrison duty — 1 
should say not less than twenty thousand effective men — to 
operate on the south side of James River, Richmond being your 
objective point. To the force you already have will be added 
about ten thousand men from South Carolina, vmder Major- 
General Gillmore, who will command them in person. Major 
General W. F. Smith is ordered to report to you, to command 
the troops sent into the field from your own department. 

' ' General Gillmore will be ordered to report to you at Fort- 
ress Monroe, with all the troops on transports, by the 18th 
instant, or as soon thereafter as practicable. Should you not 
receive notice by that time to move, you will make such dispo- 
sition of them and your other forces as you may deem best cal- 
culated to deceive the enemy as to the real move to be made. 

" When you are notified to move, take City Point with as 



THE CAMPAIGN ON THE SOUTH SIDE. 495 

much force as possible. Fortify or rather intrench, at once, 
and concentrate all your troops for the field there as rapidly as 
you can. From City Point directions cannot be given at this 
time for your further movement. 

" The fact that has already been stated — that is, that Hich- 
mond is to be your objective point and that there is to be 
cooperation between your force and the Army of the Potomac 
— must be your guide. This indicates the necessity of your 
holding close to the south bank of the James River as you 
advance. Then, should the enemy be forced into his intrench- 
ments in Richmond, the Army of the Potomac would follow, 
and by means of transports the two armies would become 
a unit. 

' ' All the minor details of your advance are left entirely to 
your direction. If, however, you think it practicable to use 
your riavalry south of you so as to cut the railroad about Hicks- 
ford about the time of the general advance, it would be of 
immense advantage. 

" You will please forward for my information, at the earliebt 
practicable day, all orders, details and instructions you may give 
for the execution of this order. 

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant- General. 

Major-General B. F. Butler." * 

It is rather difficult to understand from this letter what was 
the exact part assigned to General Butler ; but, from various 
papers which I have consulted elsewhere, I have come to the 
conclusion that Butler was expected to move up the south bank, 
take Richmond or Petersburg, if possible, and if unsuccessful 
in that, keep the way open for General Grant to pass the James 
River should he be unable to defeat Lee before reaching Rich- 
mend, 

* General Grant's Report p. i. 



496 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Butler's force consisted of the 18tli corps under General Yi. 
F. Smith, and the 10th corps, under General Q. A. Gill- 
more, which had been at Charleston, South Carolina. The 
cavalry division of General Kautz, then at Norfolk, was also 
j)laced under his orders. This army was almost as large as 
that under General Lee, numbering about thirty-one thousand 
men.* It rendezvoused at Yorktown and Gloucester Point 
towards the last of April, and, to conceal his real designs, 
Butler sent about four thousand infantry and cavalry up the 
Peninsula to threaten Richmond. 

On the 4th of May, the Army of the James, as it vfas called, 
embarked in transports, and dropping down York River, sailed 
down the Bay, into Hampton Roads and the James River. On 
the 5th, City Point and Bermuda Hundredsf were occupied, 
the Confederates offering no resistance. 

At the time of the landing of Butler's forces, the city of 
Petersburg and the country between the Appomattox and the 
James were almost entirely defenceless. Drewry's Bluff was 
held by a small garrison, but there was scarcely more than a 
regiment at Petersburg. The troops intended for the defence of 
the South Side had been sent off to the coast of North Carolina 
by General Bragg. They captured the town of Plymouth, — a 
barren and worthless victory, — but were thrown off to a point 
where they could do no good in the defence of the all-important 
line south of the James. When the authorities at Richmond 
found that the city was to be threatened from this quarter, they 
confided the defence of the South Side to General Beauregard, 
who was ordered to repair at once to his new command. Gen- 
eral Beauregard left Charleston, bringing with him such troops 
as he could withdraw from the coast, and orders were sent to 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 461. 

t A narrow neck of land at the intersection of the Appomattox and James 
Elvers, opposite City Point, about a mile distant. 



THE CAMPAIGN ON THE SOUTH SIDE. 497 

Generals Ploke and Pickett to move up promptly from North 
Carolina with their divisions. The advanced brigade of General 
Pickett, accompanied by the General himself, reached Peters- 
burg about the time the enemy occupied Bermuda Hundreds. 
General Beauregard was hurrying the rest of the troops forward 
as rapidly as possible, but they were still in North Carolina. 
General Bragg, now that the plans of the Federals had fully 
developed themselves, went to work energetically to repair his 
error in sending Pickett away, and appreciating the importance 
of Petersburg, did his best to make it secure, and had no idea 
of abandoning it, as has been unjustly charged against him. 

On the 6th of May, Butler advanced a brigade, and battery 
under General Heckman, to Port Walthal Junction, about six 
miles from Petersburg, and the same distance from Bermuda 
Hundreds. A part of Hay good's South Carolina brigade was 
sent from Drewry's brigade to Port Walthal Junction. This 
force encountered Heckman's brigade on the afternoon of the 
6th, and a sharp skirmish ensued, resulting in the enemy being 
forced back. Heckman returned to Bermuda Hundreds that 
night. 

On the 7th, Butler, in accordance with General Grant's in- 
structions, having strongly intrenched his front from river to 
river, moved towards the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad for 
the purpose of destroying the track. A part of Pickett's divi- 
sion had now reached Petersburg, and this force was thrown out 
to the railroad, which it covered from Port Walthal Junction to 
Chester, about half way between Richmond and Petersburg. 
Butler attacked at once, and was repulsed. That night Pickett, 
fearing an advance upon Petersburg, and not having men enough 
to hold it against a determined attack, resorted to strategy. All 
night he kept a number of locomotives on the railroads leading 
into Petersburg, running backwards and forwards with as much 
noise as possible, hoping to cause Butler to think that reenforce- 
63 



498 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

ments were pouring Into Petersburg. The enemy made no 
advance during the night. 

On the 9th General Butler again advanced against the rail- 
road with his whole command. Upon reaching the road in 
the vicinity of Chester, Butler proceeded to destroy it. Then 
dividing his force, and leaving one part fiicing Richmond, he 
moved with the rest towards Petersburg. Driving in the Con- 
federate skirmishers, he encountered the Southern line of battle 
drawn up in intrenchments behind Swift Creek, about three 
miles from the city. Slight skirmishing ensued, but no serious 
attack was made by the enemy. It was General Butler's inten- 
tion to attack this line the next mornins:, but that ni^ht he was 
informed by his Government that Grant was driving Lee before 
him towards the Confederate Capital. Upon this he abandoned 
the movement against Petersburg, and resolved to march at 
once upon Richmond.* He doubtless hoped to carry the 
defences of that city south of the James, and either occupy it 
before Grant's arrival, or aid in its capture when the Army of 
the Potomac came up. On the 12th the Federal army moved 
in the direction of Richmond, the Confederate advanced forces 
falling back slowly until they reached their intrenched line on 
the left bank of Proctor's Creek. On the 13th the Confed- 
erates fell back from this line to the defences of Drewry's 
Bluff. 

On the 13th General Beauregard's army reached Petersburg, 
and was rapidly thrown across to Drewry's Bluff, and posted in 
the line behind Proctor's Creek. The Confederate force now ; 
numbered about eighteen thousand, and its position was very i 
strong. 

Butler followed, and on the 14th occupied Beauregard's outer \ 
line of works in front of Drewry's Bluff. This line General 1 
Beauregard permitted him to occupy, desiring to draw him as i 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 464. 



THE CAMPAIGN ON THE SOUTH SIDE. 499 

far as possible from his gunboats, and thus enable his own army 
to operate on the Federal left flank. In order to occupy the line 
abandoned to him, Butler was compelled to "string out" his 
force, but he determined to attack the main line of the Confed- 
erates on the morning of the 16th. 

This was the time appointed by General Beauregard for 
striking a blow at Butler. He had discovered that the interval 
of half a mile which extended between the Federal rio-ht and 
the James River was weakly guarded by cavalry, and he de- 
cided to turn Butler's position in that direction. He had 
stationed General Whiting's division at Port Walthal Junction 
to cover the approaches to Petersburg, and had thus in reality 
placed it around Butler's left flank and in the rear of the new 
Federal position. Appreciating this advantage, he ordered 
General Whiting to move out on the morning of the 16th, and 
throw his command across the neck from the Appomattox to 
the James, and thus cut off the Federals from their base at 
Bermuda Hundreds. In this way he hoped to surround and 
capture, or destroy Butler's whole command ; and there was 
every reason to believe that the plan would be crowned with 
success. ' 

At dawn on the morning of the 16th of May, General Beau- 
regard made his attack. A thick fog covered the whole coun- 
try, rendering it very difficult to distinguish the position of the 
enemy. The first attempt against the Federal right failed, but 
after a severe attack in front, the turninof movement was re- 
new^ed, and Smith was forced back from his position to a point 
farther in the rear, and Beauregard, then renewing his eflTorts, 
forced Butler's whole command back about two miles behind 
Ware Bottom Church, where they had throAvn up a strong line 
of intrenchments when they first landed at Bermuda Hun- 
dreds. 

During all this time, General Whiting lay quiet at Port 



500 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

"VVfljthal Junction, fearing that the enemy would attempt to 
advance upon Petersburg. Had he moved off early in the 
morning, he would have seized Butler's line of retreat, and the 
Federal army would have been ruined ; but he deliberately 
refused to obey 'General Beauregard's instructions, and the 
brilliant and promising plan of the Confederate commander 
failed, simply through this act of insubordination. 

The Confederate loss in this battle was about three thousand, 
that of the enemy over four thousand. 

General Beauregard followed Butler leisurely, and threw up 
a line of intrenchments, extending from Port Walthal Junction 
to the James River below Drewry's BluiF. On the 21st of 
May, Butler attacked this line with the hope of stopping its 
construction, but was repulsed with heavy loss. Frequent 
skirmishing now took place between the two armies, but Beau- 
regard finished his intrenchments, and the Federal army, to use 
the forcible language of General Grant, "was as completely 
shut off from further operations directly against Richmond, as 
if it had been in a bottle strongly corked."* 

Thus the early part of June found the army of General But- 
ler, who had boastfully opened his campaign, "corked up" by 
Beauregard, the commands of Crook, Hunter and Averill, 
driven beyond the mountains, and the principal Federal army, 
under General Grant himself, abandoning the original cam- 
paign, and seeking a new base south of the James. 

Everywhere success crowned the efforts of the Southern army. 

* General Grant's Report, p. 8. 



^T 

t'^-"-^,:-^^. 



m 



>^x 






jdBj' 



H2f 



./., 



GRANT CROSSES THE JAMES RIVER. 501 



XI. 

THE SIEGE OF PETERSBURG. 

June, 1864 — jVIarch, 1865. 



GRANT CROSSES THE JAMES RIVER. 

Immediately after the battle of Cold Harbor, General Grant 
deterinined to abandon the line of the Chickahominy, and 
seek a new base south of the James River. It required a con- 
siderable amount of moral courage upon his part to carry out 
this resolution, for it involved the abandonment of the favorite 
scheme of his Government — the covering of Washington City. 
General Grant, however, had a correct idea of the way in which 
this should be done, and he was convinced that the best way to 
cover Washington was to threaten Petersburg and Richmond. 
He had come to the conclusion that the weak point of Richmond 
was south of the James, and he determined to assail it there. It 
would have been well for him had he made his original move- 
ment from that quarter. He would have saved sixty thousand 
of his best troops, and have gained more decided advantages 
than he could have secured from any other plan. 

Havinj; decided to cross the James, General Grant at once 
commenced to put his plan into execution. On the 6th, he be- 



502 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

gan to move his line closer to the Chickahominy,* by withdraw- 
ing Warren's corps to a point in rear of his centre, only ten 
miles from the Long Bridge. On the 7th, his line was drawn 
still closer to the York Kiver Railroad, and Sheridan was sent 
with his cavalry to destroy the Central Railroad. This expedi- 
tion was met by Hampton's cavalry at Trevylian's Depot, and 
repulsed with such loss that Sheridan was forced to retreat. 

On the night of the 12th of June, the march of the Federal 
army began, Warren's corps moving in advance, preceded by 
Wilson's cavalry. Warren seized the Long Bridge, and throw- 
ing out his corps beyond it, made his dispositions to mask the 
crossing of the remainder of Grant's army. 

General Lee discovered the withdrawal of the Federal army, 
on the morning of the loth, and moved his forces towards the 
James River. A small cavalry force had been stationed in front 
of the Lono; Bridsje to watch it, and on the morning;- of the 
13th, this was driven back by Warren's coi'ps about two miles 
beyond Riddle's Shop, which is the point where the road lead- 
ing from Richmond to Charles City Court House, intersects 
the road leading to Malvern Hill. About two o'clock in the 
afternoon, Mahone's and Wilcox's divisions came to the assis- 
tance of the cavalry. An attack was made at once, and the 
enemy were driven back two miles beyond Riddle's Shop. The 
cross roads, and the road leading to Malvern Hill were recov- 
ered, and the enemy were forced back in the direction of the 

* The following bulletin will show that this movement was quickly detected. 

" Headquarters Akmy Northern Virginia. 
June6, 1864— 8.30, P.M. 
"Hon. Secretary of War: 

" There has been very little skirmishing on the lines to-day. 
" It was discovered early this morning that the enemy had withdrawn from 
the front of General Early on our left, and from the most of the front of Gen- 
eral Anderson on the centre. 

Respectfully, &.<_•., 

R. E. Lee, General." 



GRANT CROSSES THE JAMES RIVER. 503 

Long Bridge and the Chickiihoininy,* when night came on, and 
tlie advance was cheeked. 

Meanwhile the Federal anny had crossed the Chickahominy. 
Upon leaving Cold Harbor General Smith's corps was sent to 
the White House where it embarked in transports and returned 
to Bermuda Hundreds. The remainder of the army followed 
AVarren over the Long Bridge, and the trains crossed on a pon- 
ton-bridge at Coles' Ferry. The march was then resumed 
towards the James River, which was reached at Wilcox's land- 
ing on the 14th. A delay was caused here by the failure to 
provide a sufficient quantity of materials for bridging the river. 
Hancock's corps was ferried over to Windmill Point in trans- 
ports, and on the night of the 14th a bridge was thrown over 
the river, and by the 16th the entire Federal army was south of 
the James. 

Grant's movements were known to General Lee,! ^"^ ^^ 

* " Headquaetehs Army Northern Virgikia, 
Junel3,lSG4 — 10 p.m. 
•■Hox. Secretary of War: 

'* A dispatch just received from Major-General Hampton, states that he de- 
feated the enemy's cavalry near Trevylian's, with heavy loss, capturing five 
hundred prisoners, besides the wounded. The enemy retreated in confusion, 
apparently, by the route he came, leaving his dead and wounded on the field. 
" At daylight this morning it was discovered that the army of General Grant 
had left our front. Our skirmishers were advanced between one and two 
miles, but failing to discover the enemy, were withdrawn. A body of cavalry 
and some infantry, from Long Bridge, advanced to Riddle's Shop and were 
driven back this evening nearly two miles, after some sharp skirmisliing. 

Respectfully, 

K. E. Lee, General." 

i "Headquarters Army Northern ViRorNiA, 
Junel4, 18W — 9p. M. 

'•aas. secbetaby of War: 

" Sir : The force of the enemy mentioned in my last dispatch as being on 
the Long Bridge road, disappeared during the night. It was probably ad- 
vanced to cover the movement of the main body, most of which, as far as I 
can learn, crossed the Chickahominy at Long Bridge and below, and has 
reached James River, at Westovsr and Wilcox's Landing. 



504 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

effort was made to interfere with him. The only fighting that 
occurred was between the Federal cavalry, and Fitzhugh Lee's 
division,* tlie former being doubtless thrown out by General 
Grant to keep back an advance of the Southern army while his 
troops were delayed at Wilcox's Landing. Much surprise was 
expressed in the South because General Lee permitted the 
enemy to pass the James without seeking to impede their move- 
ments. The truth was, however, that General Lee was not 
strong enough for such a venture. He had just detached Early's 
corps from his army, and was left with very little over thirty 
thousand men. With this force it would have been impossible 
to prevent the Federal army from crossing the river, and Gen- 
eral Lee wisely considered it his duty to refrain from throwing 
away the lives of his men. He contented himself with occupy- 
ing a position covei'ing Richmond, from which he could watch 
Grant's army on the James, or go to the aid of Petersburg if 
the enemy should attempt to capture that city. 

" A portion of General Grant's army, upon leaving our front at Cold Harbor, 
is reported to have proceeded to the White House and embarked at that place. 
Everything is said to have been removed, and the depot at the White House 
broken up. The cars, engine, railroad iron, and bridge timber that had been 
brougiit to that point, have also been shipped. 

Very respectfully, &c., 

R. E. Lee, General." 

* "Headquauteks Akmv of Northern Virginia, 
JunelS, 1864 — G, P.M. 
"Hon. secbetary of Wak: 

" SiK : After the withdrawal of our cavalry yesterday evening from the 
front of the enemy's works at Harrison's Landing, his cavalry again advanced 
on the Salem Church road, and this morning were reported in some force on 
that road and at Malvern Hill. General William H. F. Lee easily drove back 
the force at the latter point, which retreated down the river road beyond 
Carter's Mill. A brigade of infantry was sent to support the cavalry on the 
road to Smith's Store, and drove the enemy to that point without difficulty. 
Nothing else of importance has occurred to-day. 

Very respectfully, &c., 

R. E. I(EE, General." 



THE SIEGE BEGUN. 505 



II. 

THE SIEGE BEGUN. 

Petersburg lies twenty-two miles south of Richmond, on the 
right bank of the Appomattox. It is connected with the latter 
city by a railroad and an excellent turnpike. The Appomattox 
is navigable to the wharves of the city for light-draught vessels. 
Two railroads of importance begin at Petersburg, the road to 
Weldon leaving the city on the south, and the South Side Rail- 
road, running to Lynchburg and connecting with the Richmond 
and Danville Railroad at Burkesville, about fifty-five miles 
from Petersburg, and the same distance from Richmond. Both 
of these railroads were Important lines of supply, and their loss, 
together with that of the city, would sever the communications 
of Richmond with the country south of the Appomattox, and 
compel the evacuation or surrender of the Confederate Capital. 
As General Butler had said, Petersburg was the back door of 
Richmond. 

In spite of its importance, however, It was left at the mercy 
of the enemy. General Lee could spare no troops for Its de- 
fence, and the army of General Beauregard, from which Hoke's 
and Pickett's divisions had been taken, was too weak to hold 
the line in front of Butler, and the city also. Therefore, as the 
menace against Petersburg: seemed to come from the direction 
of Bermuda Hundreds, General Beauregard was compelled to 
leave the city without a garrison, in order to oppose the enemy 
in his immediate front. 

General Grant's first design after reaching the James River 
ivsLS to capture Petersburg, as the possession of that city by his 
64 



506 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

forces would compel General Lee to abandon Riolnnond and 
retire to the interior of the State. As he had cut loose from 
his base at the White House, and thus informed his adversary 
of his intention to cross the James, it was necessary to attempt 
to surprise Petersburg, for in a sudden and unexpected attack 
upon it lay his only hope of success. 

Accordingly, as soon as General Smith's corps returned to 
Bermuda Hundreds, it was thrown across the Appomattox by 
means of a ponton-bridge near City Point. To this force was 
added a division of cavalry under General Kautz, and a division 
of negro troops under General Hinks. General Smith was or- 
dered to inarch at once upon Petersburg and attack and capture 
the town, which was known to be undefended by any consid- 
erable force. On the morning of the 15th he set off, marching 
in three columns, to assail the city from the Norfolk and Peters- 
burg Railroad, to a point across to the City Point Railroad. 

Soon after daylight the enemy appeared before some breast- 
works which had been hastily thrown up during the night of the 
14th on Baylor's Farm, on the City Point road, six miles from 
Petersburg. These works were held by the 4th North Carolina 
cavalry and Graham's battery. General Smith threw forward 
the negro division to carry them, and, after a gallant struggle, 
the Confederates were driven back with the loss of one gun. 
Continuing to advance, General Smith arrived in front of the 
outer line of fortifications around Petersburg about noon. He 
had been informed that the fortifications were feuch ' ' that cav- 
alry could ride over them," and was somewhat surprised upon 
reconnoitering them to find them so strong and well con- 
structed.* He was not aware, however, of the weakness of 
the force charged with their defence. He was induced to think 
the garrison very large by the excellent and heavy fire which 
the Confederate artillery maintained upon the Federal batteries, 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, pp. 500, 501 . 



THE SIEGE BEGUN. 507 

which constantly compelled the latter to change their positions.* 
The Confederate force, however, consisted of about three bat- 
teries of artillery, a part of Wise's brigade, and the militia of 
the city of Petersburg, — a force scarcely sufficient to occupy 
the works, still less to hold them. 

At a little before seven o'clock p. m. General Smith threw 
forward strong skirmish lines, — as many as six, in rapid suc- 
cession, — and with these assaulted the works on the City Point 
and Prince George Court House roads. Three attacks were 
repulsed with loss to the enemy, but the fourth was successful. 
The Confederates were driven back and four of their guns cap- 
tured. These pieces were at once opened on the remainder of 
the line, enfilading it completely, and by dark the enemy were 
in full possession of the whole line of outer works, and about 
twelve guns, together with several hundred prisoners. 

The city was now at the mercy of the Federals. Tlie Con- 
federate army was hurrying from the James River to its assist- 
ance, but was too far off' to render any aid, and the force in 
General Smith's front was inadequate to a successful defence of 
the town. Hancock's corps, which had been hurried forward 
by General Grant to cooperate with Smith, had come up, and 
all that was necessary was for General Smith to enter the town, 
drive out the little band occupying it, and take possession. 
This, however, he did not do, but contented himself with hold- 
ing the works he had won, and waiting for the arrival of Gen- 
eral Grant, who was on his way with the rest of his army. 

As I have stated. General Beauregard's army was very small, 
but no sooner did he hear of the danger which threatened 
Petersburg than he withdrew a considerable part of his troops 
from Butler's front, and sent them to the assistance of Peters- 
burg, where they began to arrive just after the outer line was 
carried by the enemy. General Lee hurried forward as soon as 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 502. 



508 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

he learned of the attack on Petersburg, but as he v/as full forty 
miles from the Appomattox his advanced forces did not reach 
the city until the night of the 15th. The force there, however, 
was still very small, and before additional reenforcements could 
be sent, General Lee was compelled to turn aside to meet a 
menace from Butler. 

General Lee had ordered General Beauregard not to evacuate 
his line until Anderson's corps, then moving from Richmond, 
should relieve him ; but as the demand for troops at Petersburg 
was so urgent, and there was no prospect that Anderson would 
get up in time, General Beauregard assumed the responsibility 
of withdrawing his command into Petersburg. Butler then 
taking advantage of this withdrawal, occupied the Confederate 
works, and sent Terry's division towards the railroad to destroy 
it. Before this could be done, however, Terry was met b}^ the 
head of Anderson's column — Pickett's division — and driven 
back to Bermuda Hundreds. Pickett's men, then following in 
pursuit, arrived before Beauregard's abandoned line, which 
Butler had occupied. General Lee did not wish to bring on an 
engagement at this point, and sent repeated orders to Pickett to 
halt. These orders were transmitted to the troops, but were 
of no avail. Pickett's men dashed on in spite of the efforts 
of their officers to stop them, and in a fierce, impetuous charge 
drove Butler into his own works and reestablished Beauregard's 
line.* 

* This drew from General Lee the following complimentary letter to Gen- 
eral Anderson : 

" Clay's House, June 17, 5 1-2 P. M. 
"Lieutenant-Genekal E. H. Anderson, Commanding Longetreel's Corps. 

" General : I take great pleasure in presenting to you my congratula- 
tions upon the conduct of the men of your corps. I believe tliat they will 
carry anything they are put against. "We tried very hard to stop Pickett's 
men from capturing the breastworks of the enemy, but could not do it. I 
hope his loss has been small. 

I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, 

R. E. Lee, General " 



THE SIEGE BEGUN. 509 

Butler telegraphed that he had destroyed the raih'oad. This, 
however, was a mistake. The injuries he inflicted upon it were 
repaired in two or three hours, and General Lee was able on the 
same day to send troops over it to Petersburg. 

Meanwhile General Hancock, who had assumed command 
of the two corps in front of Petersburg, to which his rank 
entitled him, spent the morning in cannonading the Southern 
lines, and shelling the city, which was full of non-combatants, 
notice not having been given them to leave it. He was ordered 
by General Meade to refrain from attacking again until the rest 
of the Army of the Potomac should have arrived. The morn- 
ing was passed by the Confederates also in strengthening their 
position, and bringing up their forces. 

The 9th Federal corps having arrived at noon, an assault was 
ordered by Burn side and Hancock at four o'clock in the after- 
noon. At the appointed hour these corps made a gallant charge 
upon the Southern line, and penetrating through an interval 
which had been unfortunately left on the right, poured into the 
works, and assailed the Confederates in them. The Southern 
troops then fell back to a second line nearer the town, and 
resisted the efforts of the enemy to carry that also. 

About nine o'clock that night General Lee, with the greater 
portion of his army, arrived at Petersburg. He decided to 
retake the works lost in the afternoon, and at eleven o'clock p. 
M., an assault was ordered on the Federal right. The enemy 
were driven back, and the works at Howlett's House recap- 
tured.* 

• " Headquarters, etc., June 17, 18ft4. 
"His Excellency Jeffeeson Davis: 

" At eleven o'clock last night we took the breastworks at Howlett's House. 

Other portions of the same line were taken. Tlie battery at Howlett's is being 

reestablished. Five vessels have been sunk by the enemy in Trent's Reacli. 

Ten steamers are within the Reach, behind the monitors. Some figliting has 

occurred near Petersburg, this morning, without result. I have ordered that 

the railroad at Port Walthal Junction, destroyed by the enemy yesterday, 

be repaired and re-opened. R. E. Lee, General" 



510 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

The next day, the 17th, Hancock and Burnslde renewed the 
attack. The day was spent in heavy fighting, the enemy sev- 
eral times assaulting, but only to be repulsed. Towards dark, 
Burnside succeeded in carrying a part of the Southern intrench- 
nients, but after nightfall was attacked and driven back to his 
own line. 

Grant's whole army was now before Petersburg, and still 
holding to his original resolve to capture the city, he ordered a 
general assault for the morning of the 18th. In the meantime, 
however, General Lee had been engaged in constructing a for- 
midable line of works immediately around the city, and on the 
morning of the 18th, he withdrew from the temporary line he 
had held in advance, and occupied that which w^as destined to 
become memorable for the siege it sustained. When the enemy 
moved forward a few hours later, they found that the works 
they had expected to storm were abandoned. General Grant 
then ordered an attack upon Lee's new line. At noon, Gib- 
bon's division, of Hancock's corps, attacked and was repulsed. 
At six o'clock, an attack by the 2nd corps met the same fate ; 
and later in the day, attacks by the 5th and 9th corps were also 
driven back.* The losses in these commands were very heavy. 

These assaults cost General Grant many of his best men. 
From the time Smith made his first attack up to the repulse of 
the last assault of the 18th, the Federal army suffered a loss of 
about ten thousand men,f while the Confederate casualties did 
not amount to more than a third of that number. It was now 
plain that Lee's whole army was south of the James, and that 
it would be impossible to carry Petersburg by a direct attack. 
Therefore General Grant decided to lay siege to the city. The 
musket was laid aside for the spade, and in a few days the Fed- 
erals were strongly intrenched in Lee's immediate front from the 

* General Meade's Eeport. 

t The exact number according to the Federal official statement, was 9,665. 



THE SIEGE BEGUN. 511 

river to the Norfolk Railroad. This line beinii; made secure 
against attack, General Grant commenced to extend his left for 
the purpose of completing the investment of the city. 

On the 21st, the 2nd and 6th corps moved towards the Wel- 
don Railroad. By nightfall they secured a position across the 
Jerusalem plank road, and the next afternoon attempted to con- 
tinue their movement to the railroad. 

The movement had been detected on the previous evening, 
liowever, and General Lee had sent Mahone's division to put a 
stop to it. About two o'clock in the afternoon, Mahone struck 
the enemy at a point where an interval had been left between the 
()th and 2d corps. Penetrating this gap in the Federal line, he 
made a spirited attack, doubling up the 2d corps and driving 
it back to the left of the plank road, capturing several entire 
regiments,* and a battery. Then driving the 2d corps into the 
works held by the Gth, Mahone witlidrew his command as rap- 
idly as he had struck the blow. He carried off the captured 
guns, several standards, and sixteen hundred prisoners. f 

* Campaigns of the Array of the Potomac, p. 512. 

t "Headquakteks Army op nokthern Virgixia, 

June, 22, 1864. 

"Hon. James A. Seddon, Secretary of War: 

" Since Friday last there has been skirmishing along the lines in front of 
Bermuda Hundreds and around Petersburg. The Federal army appears to be 
concentrated at these two places, and is strongly intrenched. 

•' Yesterday, a movement of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, was made to- 
wards the right of our forces and Petersburg, in tUe direction of the Weldon 
railroad. The enemy was driven back, and his infantry is reported to have 
lialted. His cavalry have continued to advance upon tlie road by a route fur- 
ther removed from our position. 

" The enemy's infantry was attacked this afternoon, on the west side of the 
Jerusalem plank road, and driven from his first line of works to his second on 
that road, by General Mahone, with a part of liis division. About sixteen 
hundred prisoners, four pieces of artillery, eight stands of colors, and a large 
number of small arms were captured. 

Very respectfully, &c., 

E. E. Lee, General," 



512 hlFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

When the 2J antl Gth corps moved out, a cavalry expedition 
under Generals Wilson and Kautz, was organized to operate 
ao;ainst the railroads south of the Appomattox. This force left 
the position of the 2d corps on the evening of the 21st of June. 
Proceeding to Reams' Station ontheWeldon Railroad, the Fed- 
eral cavalry burned the depot, and destroyed the road for a con- 
siderable distance. Tiien striking across the country, they 
made for the South Side Railroad. Wilson marched direct to 
Nottoway Station, where he destroyed the track for several 
miles, and Kautz moved to Burkesville, the junction of the 
South Side and Richmond and Danville railroads, where he in- 
flicted some damage upon the track. 

As soon as General Lee was Informed of this raid he sent 
Fitzhugh Lee's division of cavalry in pursuit of the enemy, and 
at the same time moved Mahone's infantry down the Weldon 
Railroad to cut off the retreat of the Federals if they attempted 
to return by the route by which they advanced. Fitzhugh Lee 
came up with Wilson near Dinwiddle Court House. Lee was 
repulsed in this encounter, but hung closely upon the Federal 
column, and the next day succeeded in throwing his command 
across Wilson's line of march near Nottoway Court House. 
Wilson made a vigorous attempt to break Lee's line, but was 
repulsed,* and the next day withdrew to Meherrin Station on 

♦ " Headquarters Army Northern Virginia, 
June 25, 1864. 
"Honorable secretary of War. 

" Sir : General W. H. F. Lee pursued the enemy's cavalry which advanced 
along the South Side Railroad. He had a skirmish on the 22d near Dinwiddle 
Court House, and the next day struck their column in flank, near Black's and 
White's, cutting it in two, and getting possession of the road by which they 
were moving towards Nottoway Court House. 

" The road was held after an engagement which continued from 12, M., until 
dark, the enemy making repeated attempts to break through and rejoin his 
advance. He withdrew from General Lee's front at daylight on the 24th, leav- 
ing his dead and wounded on the field, taking the road to Hungarytown and 
Keysville. General Lee is still following them. 

" Very respectfully, &c., " R. E. Lee, General." 



THE SIEGE BEGUN. 513 

tlic Danville Railroad, where he formed a junction with Kautz. 
Xot far from this point the railroad crosses the Staunton River 
on a covered bridge of considerable length. Wishing to destroy 
this important bridge, the Federals hastened towards the river. 
The bridge was guarded by a battalion of home guards — old 
men and boys, who had never been under fire — under Captain 
Farinholt. This force repulsed the attacks of the enemy, and 
saved the bridge ; and Fitzhugh arriving at this time, Wilson 
retreated, leaving his dead on the field.* 

Retreating rapidly, Wilson reached Sappony Church, on the 
afternoon of the 28th. Here he found Hampton's cavalry which 
had been thrown out to meet him. A severe eno-ao-ement 
ensued, in which General Wilson was worsted. He then re- 

* " Headquarters Ariiy of Northern Virginia, 
June 20, 18Ct. 
"Hox. Secretary of War: 

" Sm: The enemj' has been quiet to-day in our front. A dispatcli, dated 
25th, was received this morning from Capt. Farrinholt, commanding at Staun- 
ton River bridge, expressing his confidence in being able to protect it. 

" This afternoon General W. H. F. Lee reports that he attacked the enemy 
near Staunton River bridge, yesterday afternoon, and drove him until dark. He 
also states that the enemy was sigjially repulsed at the bridge tlie same even- 
ing, and retreated this morning, leaving about thirty of his dead on tlie field. 

Very respectfully, &c., 

R. E. Lee, General.'^ 

"Headquarters Army Northerx Virginia. 
June 28, 1SG4. 
"Ilox. Secretary of War. 

" Sir : The enemy has been engaged to-day apparently in strengthening his 
lines in front of Petersburg, advancing them at some points. His cavalry, 
after being repulsed at Staunton River bridge, on tlie afternoon of the 20th, re- 
tired in the direction of Christiansville, where tliey encamped that night. The 
ne.\t morning they continued their marcli towards Lawrenceville, by way of 
Burntville, and a part of them encamped last night about eight miles northwest 
of the former place. They appeared to bo making their way back to the main 
body of the army. 

Very respectfully, &c., 

E. E. Lee, General." 
65 



514 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

tired to Reams' Station, which was in possession of the Federal 
army. To his surprise, however, he was attacked by Mahone's 
infantry upon reaching the railroad, while Hampton and Fitz- 
hugh Lee closed in upon him from behind. Defeated in this 
encounter, with the loss of his trains and artillery, he fled 
southward, abandoning evex'y thing that could impede his 
movements.* He succeeded in crossing the Nottoway River, 
and escaped into the Union lines. The Federal loss in this 
raid was very great, and the expedition accomplished literally 
nothing in comparison with what it suffered. f 

The month of June closed with both armies facing each other 
at Petersburg, General Grant constantly watching for an op- 
portunity to extend his left across the Weldon Railroad. 

* "Headquaeters Akmt Northern Virginia, 
June 29tli, 18G1-8 SO, p. m. 

"Honorable Secretary of War: 

"Sir — General Hampton reports that he attacked the enemy's cavalry, 

yesterday afternoon on their return from Staunton river bridge, this side of 

Sappony churcli, and drove them beyond that point. The fight continued 

during the night, and at daylight this morning lie turned their left and routed 

them. AVhen they reached Reams' Station they were confronted by a portion 

of Mahone's division, who attacked them in front, while their left flank was 

turned by General Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry. The enemy was completely 

routed, and several pieces of artillery, with a number of prisoners, wagons, 

ambulances, etc., captured. The cavalry are in pursuit. 

R. E. Lee." 

t " Headquarters Army Northern Virginia, 
July J, 18G4. 
"Hon. Secretary of War: 

" General Beauregard reports a feeble demonstration made by tlie enemy 
on a portion of General Johnson's lines about five p. m., yesterday. His 
skirmishers, supported by two lines of troops, drove in our line of skirmishers, 
which was established at dark. 

"In the various conflicts with the enemy's cavalry in their late expedition 
against the railroads, besides their killed and wounded left on the field, one 
thousand prisoners, thirteen pieces of artillery, thirty wagons and ambu- 
lances, many small arms, horses, ordnance stores, and several hundred 
negroes, taken from the plantations on their route, were captured. 

R. E. Lee, General." 



burnside's mine. • 515 

North of the James very little transpired worthy of note, the 
efforts of both armies being concentrated south of the river. 
General Butler, towards the close of the month, threw a part 
of his command to the north bank, and established a force at 
Deep Bottom. The Federal cavalry, on the 24th of June, at- 
tempted to occupy Nance's Shop, but were driven from it bv 
General Hampton.* 



III. 

BURNSIDE'S MINE. 

The months of June and July were spent by the Confed- 
erate army in strengthening its position. So powerful were 
the works constructed for the defence of Petersburg, that by 
the 1st of July the Federal engineers declared them impreg- 
nable to assault. I The line consisted of a " chain of redans, 
connected by infantry parapets of a powerful profile, while the 
approaches were completely obstructed by abatis, stakes, and 
entanglements. Beginning at the south bank of the Appomat- 

*" Headquakteks AKJnr Noethekit Yiroinia, 
June 25, 18C4, 9 r. m. 

"IIoxor.ABLE Secretary of War: 

" Sir : Our entire loss yesterday morning was ninety-seven killed and 
wounded, and two hundred and nine missing. Nothing of niumont has oc- 
curred to-day on the lines in front of Bermuda Hundiods and around Peters- 
burg. General Hampton reports that the enemy's cavalry advanced yesterday 
to Nance's Shop and intrenched themselves tliere. He attacked them and 
drove them from their works, pursuing tliem until 9 p. m. to within two miles 
of Charles City Court House. They left tlieir dead and wounded on the field 
and along the route. Great credit is due to General Hampton and his com- 
mand for their handsome success. 

Very respectfully, 

R. E. Lee, General." 

t Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 516. 



516 LirE OF GENERAL LEE. 

tox> it enveloped Petersburg on the east and south, stretching 
westward beyond the furthest reach of the left flank of the 
Union army. A continuation of the same system to the north 
side of the Appomattox, protected the city and the Petersburg 
and Richmond Eailroad against attack from the direction of 
the front held by Butler's force at Bermuda Hundreds. The 
defence of Richmond was provided for by its own chain of for- 
tifications."* 

As the writer I have just quoted, remarks, Petersburg was 
not besieged in the strict sense of the term, for its communica- 
tions were all open. It was in the condition of the city of Se- 
bastopol when beleagured by the Allies. The task assigned 
to General Lee was both difficult and dangerous. He had a 
line forty miles in length to guard, Avith an army of less than 
fifty thousand men, against a powerful and well equipped enemy, 
supplied with every means of prosecuting the so-called siege. 
The manner in which this task was performed will always con- 
stitute one of General Lee's chief claims to the high rank he 
holds in the military world. 

Constant skirmishing occurred between the two armies, 
neither party neglecting to strike whenever and Avherever a fair 
opportunity presented itself. 

General Grant also busied himself in strengthenins; his line, 
so that he might be able to hold it with a small part of his 
army, and thus leave the rest of his troops free for operations 
elsewhere. 

Although the engineers had pronounced against an assault 
upon the Confederate works, it was resolved to make one more 
eifort of this nature, and in order to render it eiFective, Gen- 
eral Grant concluded to adopt a plan proposed by General 
Burnside. 

The intrenchments of the 9th corps were within one hundred 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac — p. 515. 



burnside's mine. 517 

and fifty yards of the Confederate works, which at this point 
formed an angle guarded by a fort. Tliis fort was situated in u 
reentrant angle, and was secured against capture by the enemy 
by being exposed to an enfilading and revei'se fire on both sides, 
right and left. Just behind it, however, was an important 
ridge that commanded the city and a considerable portion of 
the Southern line. Burnside proposed to excavate a mine 
under this fort, and by exploding it, make a breach in the Con- 
federate line, through which a powerful storming party should 
enter, and take possession of the works. If a successful lodge- 
ment could be made, it would result in the capture of the city 
and the defeat of Lee's army. The work was pushed forward, 
and by the 25th of July the mine was in readiness. Twelve 
thousand pounds of powder were placed in the mine on the 
27th, and everything was prepared for the grand assault, which 
was appointed for the oOth of July. 

In order to cause General Lee to weaken his force at Peters- 
burg, General Grant on the 26th sent Hancock's corps, and 
two divisions of Sheridan's cavalry, to Deep Bottom on tiie 
James, to threaten Richmond from that quarter. ITancock's 
instructions were to march at once upon Chafin's BluflT, and try 
to secure the bridges by which Lee maintained his communica- 
tions between the two banks of the river.* While Hancock 
was trying to gain the bridges, Sheridan was to move with his 
cavalry towards the Virguiia Central Railroad, and make a dash 
upon the city from that direction. The expedition landed at 
Deep Bottom on the night of the 26th, and the utmost secrecy 
was maintained respecting the movement, as it was designed to 
make it a surprise. 

* General Grant must have been misinformed as to the location of these 
bridges. The lowest, which was a permanent structure (draw-bridge), was 
above Drewry's Bluff, and the others from that point to within four miles of 
Richmond. 



518 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

It was not possible to surprise the Confederates at this point, 
as Butler's sending Foster's command to Deep Bottom had 
caused General Lee to station a force on the north side to watch 
the Federal movements, and this force was charged to maintain 
the utmost vigilance in guarding against any sudden attack by 
the enemy. General Hancock, finding that a surprise was 
not to be eifected, resolved to force the Confederates from their 
position. He ordered General Foster to attack the works in 
front, while he, with his own corps, moved around the South- 
ern riiiht flank. The attack w^as made on the morninci; of the 
27th, and the Confederates fell back to a second line behind 
Bailey's Creek, where they covered all the approaches to Cha- 
fiu's Bluff.* Hancock endeavored to flank this line also, but 
night came on before he could carry out his purpose. 

This movement induced General 1 ive to send four out of his 
eight divisions to the north side of the James. On tlie morn- 
ing of the 28th he attacked Sheridan's cavalry which had been 
thrown out in advance, and drove it back to Hancock's u'ain 
line, which he proceeded to press heavily. 

Finding it impossible to accomplish anything on the north 
side, and judging from the pressure upon Hancock, that a con- 
siderable force had been withdrawn from Petersburg, General 
Grant ordered Hancock to withdraw secretly on the night of 
the 29th, and return to the lines of Petersburg in order to take 
part in the attack on the 30th. This was accomplished suc- 
cessfully. 

The preparations for the explosion of the mine were com- 
pleted on the 28th, and after Hancock's return to the South 
Side, all was in readiness. The mine was to be fired at four 
o'clock on the morning of the oOth, and before the Confed- 
erates could recover from the confusion into which they would 

* Had General Hancock reached Chafin's Bluff, he could not have captured 
it. The position was stronger than tliat on Bailey's Creek. 



burnside's mine. 519 

be thrown, Burnside's corps \vas to charge through the breach, 
and cany the woi'ks, while the rest of the army was to be held 
in readiness to follow up any advantage gained. 

General Grant's movements on the north side accomplished 
more than he intended. They aroused the suspicions of Gen- 
eral Lee, and these suspicions were confirmed by the threaten- 
ing demonstrations which occurred along Butler's line on the 
night of the 29th. At two o'clock on the morning of the 30th, 
General Lee informed his commanders that the enemy intended 
an attack at some point of the line, that he believed the move- 
ments at Bermuda Hundreds to be a feint, and enjoined the 
strictest watchfulness upon all. In consequence of this warn- 
ing, the army was prepared for instant action, though no one 
had any idea of the real nature of Grant's design. 

At five o'clock on the morning of the oOth of July, the 
enemy exploded the mine. The fort was literally blown in 
the air, and a breach Avas made in the Southern line thirty or 
forty yards wide. The fort was held by Pegram's battery of 
four guns, and three regiments of South Carolina infantry. 
The explosion overturned the guns, and killed and wounded sev- 
eral of the artillerists and many of the infantry ; the site of the 
fort was converted into a huge crater one hundred and fifty feet 
long, sixty-five feet wide, and from twenty-five to thirty feet 
deep ; and the troops in the immediate vicinity were consider- 
ably demoralized by the sudden and appalling explosion. 

The smoke had not floated away before every gun along the 
Federal line was opened in a furious cannonade, and at the 
same time Ledlie's division of Burnside's corps, emerged from 
the Federal works, dashed across the intervening space, and 
entered the crater. Had they advanced beyond this they might 
have carried the line, for the Confederates had not yet recov- 
ered from their surpi'ise. To the astonishment of every one, 
however, they huddled into the crater, and sought slielter there 



520 LIFE OF GENEIIAL LEE. 

and behind the breastworks. The divisions of Potter and 
Wilcox, of the 9th corps, were also advanced, but they, too, 
crowded into the crater. 

Taking advantage of this delay, the Confederates rapidly re- 
gained their self possession, and with admirable discipline formed 
on the right and left of the gap. General Mahone was directed 
by General A. P. Hill, who fortunately happened to" be on the 
spot, to bring up his division, and drive the enemy back to 
their own line. 

Two hours passed away, and an assault was made and repulsed, 
and General Burnside, finding that his white troops had accom- 
plished nothing, threw forward his negro division to make the 
assault. The blacks advanced beyond the crater, but only to 
receive a withering fire of musketry and artillery which sent 
them reeling back among the whites in the pit. The Confed- 
erate artillery on both sides of the opening, poured a rapid fire 
into it, doing great execution, and completely demoralizing the 
9th corps. Parties of tens and twenties sallied out and tried to 
creep or run back to their own lines and were generally shot in 
the attempt to do so. The scene in the pit was horrible. The 
blacks and whites were huddled together in wild dismay, scream- 
ing and shouting, with the Southern shells exploding over their 
heads and in their midst every moment, doing great execution 
among them. It was as difficult to retreat as to advance, and, 
desperate as the situation was, many preferred to remain in the 
crater, rather than risk the chance of being shot down in the 
effort to return to their friends. 

At nine o'clock. General Mahone was ordered to drive the 
enemy out of the crater. Making an impetuous attack, he de- 
stroyed what little of organization was left to the enemy. They 
attempted little or no resistance, but, breaking in confusion, 
rushed back pell-mell to their own works followed by the 
deadly fire of the Southern infantry and artillery. 



MATTERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 521 

Tlie failure of this attack was a source of considerable mortifi- 
cation to the enemy, as they had reasonably expected very great 
results from it. Strangely enough, the Committee on the Con- 
duct of the War, of the Federal Congress, declared the princi- 
pal cause of the failure to be, the fact that the attack was led 
with white instead of negro troops. This is sheer nonsense. 
The cause of the failure lay simply in the weak and unskilful 
manner in which the attack was made. It was so weak and 
devoid of common sense as to be laughable, but for the terrible 
suffering it brought to the Federal troops engaged. 

The enemy lost four thousand men, of whom eight hundred 
were prisoners, including one general officer, and twelve stand- 
ards. The Confederate loss was slight, only a few hundred. 



IV. 
MATTERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 

After the failure of the mine assault, General Grant seemed 
to abandon the idea of a direct attack, and spent the autumn and 
a part of the winter in attempting to extend his left around Peters- 
burg, and in " hammering away" at the Confederate defences 
north of the James. 

Early in August, he resolved to make another effort from 
the neighborhood of Deep Bottom. He was informed that the 
Southern force confronting General Foster in that locality did 
not number more than eight thousand men, and he believed that 
a sudden attack by a strong column, would carry the works at 
Chafin's Bluff. Accordingly the 2nd and 10th corps, and 
Gregg's division of cavalry, all under General Hancock, were 
embarked on transports at City Point, in ordei'^to conceal the 
66 



522 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

character of the movement, and landed at Deep Bottom on the 
morning of the loth of August. 

Deep Bottom is about twelve miles from Richmond by land, 
but about twenty by water. Five miles west of Deep Bottom, 
and nearer the city, is Chafin's Bluff, just on the river. From 
Chafin's Bluff, the main line of the defences of the Confederate 
Capital extended almost due north to the Chickahominy at Gar- 
nett's and JNIrs. Price's fi^rms. After leaving the river, the line 
of defence crosses, first, the Osborne road, then the Darbytown 
road, then, five miles farther north, the Charles City road, then 
the Williamsburg road and lastly, the New Bridge road. The 
Osborne road, which may be said to be a continuation of Main 
street, Richmond, runs southeast from the city, following the 
course of James River. The New Market road branches off 
from the Osborne road, two miles below tlie city, and runs to 
New Market, a mile and a half north of Deep Bottom. The 
Williamsburg road leaves the city at Fulton's Hill, a point about 
three hundred yards north of the exit of the Osborne road, and 
runs due east from Richmond to Bottom's Bridge, over the 
Chickahomkiy, and thence to Williamsburg. Two miles from 
the city the Darbytown road strikes off to the right from the 
Williamsburg road, and runs by a southeast direction into the 
New Market road a mile below Deep Bottom. Two miles far- 
ther down the Williamsburg road, the Charles City road also 
branches off to the right, and, at a point fourteen miles east by 
south of the city, runs into a cross road known as the Quaker 
road, which leads from Turkey Bend, on James River, almost 
due north, across Malvern Hill, and White Oak Swamp Bridge 
to Bottom's Bridge. Just below New Market is a small stream 
known as Bailey's Creek, emptying into the James. 

About ten o'clock on the morning of tlie 13th, Plancock 
advanced towards New Market, seeing nothing of the Confed- 
erates until he arrived at Bailey's Creek, the farthest point 



MATTERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 523 

reached by liim in July. Here he found the Confederates 
occupying an intrenched hne. The day was passed in skirmish- 
ing, and towards dusk the enemy effected a lodgement on the 
Confederate right, and captured four guns, but were forced back 
from the point they had won. 

Tlie next morning, the 14th, the fighting was not resumed, 
but the day was passed by the enemy in endeavoring to discover 
the situation of the Confederate left, whicli was at White's 
Tavern on the Charles City road. During tlie day, General 
Lee, who had been apprised of Hancock's movement, reenforced 
the command at Deep Bottom. 

On the 15th Birney's division was sent by General Plancock 
to find and turn the Confederate left, but the day passed away 
with mere skirmishing. On the 16th, Birney attacked the 
Confederate position on the New Market road. He carried the 
line at first, but the Confederates, rallying speedily, drove him 
from it with heavy loss. At the same time the enemy's cavalry 
were encountered by General Chambliss' brigade on the Charles 
City road. The Southern cavalry were driven back for a con- 
siderable distance, but, rallying, they turned on the enemy, and 
repulsed them. These encounters occupied the day from eight 
in the morning until four in the afternoon, when the battle 
ended with the Confederates in full possession of tlieir line, the 
enemy having been repulsed at all points. 

Failing to carry the Southern line, General Hancock resorted 
to strategy. During the night of the 16th, be had a fleet of 
steamers sent from City Point to Deep Bottom, where they 
remained until four A. M. on the 17th, when they returned to 
City Point. General Hancock hoped that this would induce the 
Confederates to think he had abandoned his expedition, and 
entice them out of their works; but the artifice was unsuccess- 
ful.* After several days spent in skirmishing, Hancock re- 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 531. 



524 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

turned on the 20th to the South Side, having lost fifteen hun- 
dred men, and accomplished nothing. The Confederate loss 
was less than five hundred. 

Judging, from the resistance encountered by General Han- 
cock, that General Lee had withdrawn a considerable part of 
his army from the lines of Petersburg, General Grant on the 
18th of August, sent General Warren Avith the 5th corps to 
effect a lodgement on the Weldon Railroad. 

When General Lee occupied Petersburg he had no hope of 
being able to hold the Weldon Railroad, for his force was too 
weak to guard it effectually. He urged the Government to 
take measures to supply the army by the Danville Railroad 
alone, as it would be impossible to prevent the enemy from cut- 
ting the Weldon Railroad at some point, if they did not de- 
stroy the greater part of it. The reply to this warning was an 
intimation of the desire of the Government that he would hold 
the Weldon Road as long as possible. He replied that he 
would do all he could to hold it, but that he had little faith in 
his ability to do so. In obedience, therefore, to the directions 
of the Government General Lee prepared to maintain his hold 
on the Weldon Road as long as possible. 

About nine o'clock on the morning of the 18th, the enem;y 
reached Gurley's farm, about four miles southwest of Peters- 
burg, and one mile east of the railroad. Throwing forward a 
line of skirmishers, they advanced towards the railroad. They 
soon encountered the pickets of Dearing's cavalry brigade, who 
disputed their advance stubbornly until about two o'clock in the 
afternoon, by which time Dcaring had been forced back to with- 
in two miles of the city. In the afternoon a part of General 
A. P. Hill's corps fell suddenly upon Warren's left as he at- 
tempted to advance. The Federals were driven back for a mile, 
when the Confederates were withdrawn. The enemy's loss was 
about one thousand killed, wounded and missing — about three 
hundred being prisoners. 



MATTERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 525 

While this was going on in front of Petersburg, General 
Warren sent Griffin's division to seize the raih'oad. Griffin 
established himself on the road, and at once proceeded to 
intrench his position. 

On the afternoon of the 19th, General Lee sent Heth's and 
Mahone's divisions of Hill's corps to drive Warren back. 
These troops, in a vigorous attack, succeeded in forcing the Fed- 
3rals from their advanced position near Petersburg, but did not 
succeed in dislodging them from the railroad. Warren's loss 
was heavy, including twenty-five hundred prisoners and one of 
his brigade commanders — General Hays. 

After the close of the fight the Confederates withdrew to 
their main line, and Warren, throwing forward his troops on 
the morning of the 20th, occupied the ground they had aban- 
doned. The day passed in comparative quiet. General Lee be- 
ing engaged in massing troops on his right for the purpose of 
dislodging the enemy, who had fortified their position at Reams' 
Station on the railroad. 

On the morning of the 21st, the Confederates opened with 
their artillery upon Warren's position, and after an hour's can- 
nonade Heth's division made a spirited attack on the enemy in 
front, while Mahone moved out to turn their left. After a 
short, sharp fight the attack in front was repulsed, and Mahone 
was driven back with a loss of five hundred prisoners, besides 
his killed and wounded. 

These eno:ao;eraents cost the Federals four thousand four 
hundred and fifty-five men killed, wounded and captured, but 
they retained their hold on the railroad, all the efforts of the 
Confederates to dislodge them being failures. 

In order to make sure of the position gained by his left, 
General Grant sent General Hancock's corps, wlich had just 
returned from Deep Bottom, to Warren's assistance. General 
Hancock's instructions were to break up the railroad as far south 



526 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

as Kowanty Creek, eight miles from Reams' Station. Upon 
reaching the road late in the afternoon of the 21st, he at once 
set to work to destroy it, and the next three days Avcre spent in 
this way. By the afternoon of the 24th he had destroyed the 
track to a point three miles south of Reams'- Station. Here he 
withdrew his infantry into his intrenchments at Reams', and 
sent a part of his corps to continue the work of destruction. 
Just as this force was about to move off, on the 25th of 
August, Hancock was attacked by the Confederates. 

General Lee had resolved to make a last effort for the posses- 
sion of the railroad, and on the 24th, sent Hill's corps to drive 
the enemy from it. Hill moved out from Petersburg on the 
24th, and encamped for the night near Armstrong's Mills about 
eight miles south of the city. Early the next morning, the 
25th, he x-esumed his march, and halted at Monk's Neck 
Bridge, about three miles from Reams' Station, while the 
cavalry, under General Hampton, were thrown out to recon- 
noitre. Hampton encountered the Federal cavalry about eleven 
o'clock, four miles below Reams' Station > and, attacking them, 
pressed them back steadily to Malone's Station. 

As soon as General Hill heard of this, he ordered General 
Hampton to take position on his left to cooperate with him in 
an attack on the enemy's works west of the railroad at Reams' 
Station. 

Hill opened his attack at tw^o o'clock, making a charge upon 
the Federal intrenchments. The assault was repulsed. Resolv- 
ing, in spite of this failure, to carry the works, General Hill 
quickly brought up his artillery, and opened a heavy fire, on the 
Federal line, taking it in reverse, and doing considerable execu- 
tion. Heth's division, and Lane's brigade of Wilcox's division. 
were advanced under the cover of Pegram's guns, until directly 
in front of the works, when a rush was made which resulted in 
the capture of the whole line — not, however, before Hancock's 



JIATTEUS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 527 

men had been driven off in a desperate hand-to-hand struggle 
in the works, in which chibbed muskets and the bayonet were 
used freely. 

On the left Hampton's cavalry drove the Federals from their 
intrenchments and held them. 

At nightfall the enemy withdrew from the railroad towards 
their main line, and soon afterwards the Confederates returned 
to Petersburg. 

The Confederate loss was seven hundred and twenty killed, 
wounded and missing. The enemy lost two thousand prisoners, 
twelve stands of colors, nine pieces of artillery, ten caissons, 
and three thousand one hundred stand of small arms.* 

Constant skirmishing occurred between the two armies, and 
many sharp encounters took place between the hostile cavalry 
forces. The most brilliant of all these affairs was the dash 
made by General Hampton into the Federal lines in September. 

It was known that General Grant had a large drove of 
cattle grazing in Prince George County. This information was 
gained by General Hampton from a letter to General Grant 
which he intercepted. The letter stated that the cattle h*d 
been sent to the neighborhood of Sycamore Church, and that 

* "Headquarters Army Northern Virginia, 
August 2G, 1864. 
"Hox. James A. Seddon, Secretary of Wau: 

" General A. P. Hill attacked the enemy in his intrenchments, at Beams' 
Station, yesterday evening, and at the second assault carried his entire line. 
Cooke's and McKae's North Carolina brigades, under General Heth, and 
Lane's North Carolina brigade, of Wilcox's division, under General Connor, 
with Pegram's artillery, composed the assaulting column. One line of breast- 
works was carried by the cavalry, under General Hampton, with great gal- 
lantry, wlio contributed largely to tlie success of the day. Seven stands of 
colors, two thousand prisoners and nine pieces of artillery are in our possession. 
The loss of the enemy in killed and wounded is reported to be heavy; ours 
relatively small. Our profound gratitude is due to the Giver of all victory, 
and our thanks to the brave men and officers engaged. 

R. E. Lee, Genera.1." 



528 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

they were in splendid condition. Hampton at once determined 
to secure the beeves, which were much needed by the Army of 
Northern Virginia. 

Leaving Petersbm'g on the 14th of September, he bivouacked 
that night at Duval's Mill, in Sussex County, eighteen miles 
from Petersburg. The next day he resumed his march, and 
halted for tiic night in the vicinity of Sycamore Church, which 
was held by a force of the enemy, posted in intrenchments. At 
daylight on the morning of the 16th, he surprised and stormed 
this position, capturing the works and camp of the enemy and 
three hundred prisoners. 

The cattle, about twenty -five hundred in number, were se- 
cured, and, the object of the expedition being accomplished, 
Hampton set off on his return. Rosser's and Hearing's brigades 
were in the advance, and Fitzhugh Lee brought up the rear, 
the captured cattle marching between. The beeves stretched out 
over a line of four miles, but were skilfully handled. Every- 
thing went well until the column reached Belsches' Mill, on the 
Jerusalem plank road, about eighteen miles from Petersburg. 
Here two Federal cavalry divisions, under General Wilson, 
were drawn up to resist the progress of the Confederates. 

Hampton promptly attacked them, drove them back from the 
road, and succeeded in reaching Petersburg in safety, with all 
his captures, at six o'clock on the morning of the 17th, having 
lost only fifty men during the expedition.* 

♦ " Headquarters AR>nr northern Virginia, 
September 17, 1864. 

"HON. James A. Seddon, Secretary of War: 

"At daylight yesterday the enemy's skirmish line west of the Jerusalem 
plank road was driven back upon his intrenchments along their whole 
extent. Ninety prisoners were taken by us in the operation. At the same 
hour, General Hampton attacked the enemy's position north of the Norfolk 
Railroad, near Sycamore Churcli, and captured about three hundred prisoners, 
some arms and wagons, a large number of horses, and twenty-five hundred 
cattle. General Gregg attacked General Hampton on his return in the after- 
noon at Belsches* Mill, on the Jerusalem plank road, but was repulsed and 



MATTERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 529 

The action at Reams' Station, on the 25th of August, tlioujxh 
it resulted in the defeat of Hancock's corps, did not cause Gen- 
eral Warren to relinquish his hold on the Weldon Railroad, and 
in order to secure this acquisition the Federals united their main 
line with Warren's position by a chain of heavy works, stretch- 
ing from the railroad to the old left of the army on the Jeru- 
salem plank road. 

Towards the end of September General Grant determined to 
make another effort against the Confederate works north of the 
James, and, in order to prevent Lee from reenforcing that side, 
sent General Warren with two divisions of the 5th corps, two 
of the 9tii, and Gregg's division of cavalry, to operate on 
the Confederate right towards Poplar Spring Church and Pee- 
bles' Farm, southwest of Petersburg. Warren moved on the 
30th of September, and in the afternoon carried a Confederate 
outwork on Peebles' Farm, and one on the Squirrel Level road. 
He then attempted to move the two divisions of the 9th 
corps, under General Parke, towards the Boydton plank road, 
but this force was driven back by Heth's division of A. P. 
Hill's corps.* 

The next day, October 1st, was spent by the enemy in heavy 
sldrmishing. The Confederate cavalry gained some advantage 

driven back. Everything was brought oflT safely. Our entire loss does not 

exceed fifty men. 

E. E. Lee." 

* " Headquarters Akmy Northern Virginia, 
October 1, 1864. 
"Hon. James A. seddon, Secretary of War. 

" Yesterday evening General Heth attacked the enemy's infantry, who had 
broken through a portion of the line held by our artillery on Squirrel Level 
road, and drove them back. General Hill reports that they were severely 
punislied, and four hundred prisoners captured. General Hampton, operating 
on General Heth's right, also drove the enemy, capturing two stands of colors, 
and about five hundred prisoners, including five colonels and tliirteen othei 

officers. 

R. E. Lee." 
67 



530 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

in the morning, but were repulsed in the afternoon. On the 
2d of October Warren advanced his whole command, but found 
£hat the Confederates had retired to their main line. He then 
proceeded to fortify the position he had gained, and to connect 
it with the left of the Federal w^orks. His loss in the opera- 
tion was twenty-five hundred men. 

Under the cover of this movement General Butler threw the 
corps of Ord and Birney across to Deep Bottom. The next 
day — the 29th — he advanced towards the outer line, and 
captured Fort Harrison, an important work, taking with it 
fifteen pieces of artillery, and about three hundred prisoners. 
The force holding the work was very small, and made but a 
weak resistance. 

The capture of Fort Harrison seriously endangered the main 
line of the Confederates for the time. The enemy advanced 
beyond the fort against this position, and during the remainder 
of the day the Confederates had hard work to hold their ground. 
They were so weak that the men present, in order to cover 
the line had to be posted five feet apart, yet this thin line held 
the works until dark.* 

General Feld wliose division lay immediately in front of Fort 
Harrison after its capture, was anxious to move out at once, 
and attempt its recapture before the enemy could strengthen it ; 
but it was agreed to defer the assault until the next afternoon— 
September 30th — when it was made and repulsed. | 

♦ " Headquarters Army Northern Virginia, 
September 29, 18C4. 
" HON. J. A. Seddon, Secretary of War: 

" General Gregg reports that he repulsed several attacks of the enemy made 

against the intermediate line of defences, capturing many prisoners. The 

enemy still hold Battery Harrison on the exterior line. Our loss is very 

small. E. E. Lee." 

t "Headquarters Army Northern Virginia, 
• September, 30, 1801. 

"Hon. J. A. Seddon, Skceetart of War! 

"An attempt was made this afternoon to retake Battery Harrison, which, 

though partially successful, failed. R. E. Lee." 



MATTERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 531 

The enemy continued to hold tlie line they had ijained with a 
strong force. Fort Harrison was strengthened, and their posi- 
tion fortified to the James River. Many efforts were made to 
break through the Confederate works at Chafin's Bluff, and 
betw^een that point and the Williamsburg Road, all of which 
failed. The most important of these movements took place on 
the 13th of October. Early in the morning the Federals 
moved a heavy column between the Charles City and Darby- 
town roads, and in repeated attacks, during the day, endeavored 
to carry the Southern works. Their assaults were all repulsed, 
and night put an end to the fighting.* 

On the 27th of October the enemy made another effort to 
turn the Confedei-ate left, but were defeated, f 

The capture of Fort Han*ison enabled General Butler to 
prosecute with greater safety the work on his canal at Dutch 
Gap. As this undertaking acquired considerable notoriety at 
the time, it may not be out of place to describe it briefly. 

Dutcli Gap is the name applied to a neck of land, very long 
and narrow, around which the James River makes a consider- 
able bend, about eighteen miles below Richmond. It lies 

*" Headquarters Army Xokthekn Virglnia, 
October, 13, 18(H. 
'•Ilox. James A. Seddon, Secretary or War: 

" At seven o'clock this morning the enemy endeavored to advance between 
the Darbytown and Charles City roads, but was repulsed in every attempt. 
The most strenuous effort was made about four p. u., after whicli he withdrew, 
leaving many dead. Our loss very slight. 

R. E. Lee, General." 

t " Headquarters Army of Northern ViRoixrA, 
October 27, ISfri. 

"Hos. James A. Seddon, Secretary of Wak: 

" The movement of the enemy against our left to-day was repulsed. Two 

attacks upon our lines were made — one between the Henrico Poorhouse and 

Charles City road, the other on the Williamsburg road. Several hundred 

prisoners and four stands of colors were captured. Our loss is very slight. 

R. E. Lee, General." 



532 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

immediately opposite Howlett's Farm on the south side, and 
was commanded during the war by the Confederate battery at 
the hitter place. In order to move the Federal gunboats around 
this battery, General Butler in August 1864, commenced the 
construction of a canal across Dutch Gap. The work was 
prosecuted with vigor, and finished early in 1865, but the canal 
could never be used. 

During the early part of its construction, General Butler, 
was informed that the Confederates had set negro prisoners of 
war to work on their fortifications, at points where they were 
exposed to the Federal fire, and, as a measure of retaliation, he 
at once set a number of Confederates to work on the Dutch 
Gap Canal, which was constantly under fire from the Confed- 
erate guns at Howlett's Farm, and informed the Confederate 
Authorities of his act. General Lee was directed by the War 
Department to inform General Grant that Butler's charges were 
unfounded, and that retaliation on the part of the Federals was 
not warranted by the facts of the case. General Grant imme- 
diately directed that the Confederates at Dutch Gap should be 
i*emoved to a place of safety, which was done. 

The following correspondence was held by the two command- 
ers in settling this matter. 

" Headquarters Army Northern Virginia, 
October 19, 1864. 

"Lieutenant General U. S. Grant, Commanding United States Armies: 
*' General : In accordance with instructions from the Hon- 
orable Secretary of War of the Confederate States, I have the 
honor to call your attention to the subject of two comnnuii- 
cations recently addressed by Major-General B. F. Butler, an 
officer under your command, to the Hon. Robert Ould, Commis- 
sioner for the exchange of prisoners. 

" For the better understanding of the matter, I enclose 
copies of the communications. 



MATTERS KORTII AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 533 

*' You will perceive by one of them that the writer has 
placed a number of officers and men belonging to the Confed- 
erate jervice, prisoners of war captured by the United States 
forces, at labor in tlie canal at Dutch Gap, in retaliation, as is 
alleged, for a like number of Federal colored soldiers, pris- 
oners of war in our hands, who are said to have been put to 
work on our fortifications. 

" The evidence of this fact is found in the afFadavits of two 
deserters from our service. 

" The other letter refers to a copy of a notice issued by a 
Confederate officer commanding a camp near Richmond, calling 
upon the owners to come forward and establish their claims to 
certain negroes in the custody of that officer. 

" The writer of the letter proceeds to state that some of the 
negroes mentioned in the notice arc believed to be soldiers of the 
United States army captured in arms ; and, upon that belief, 
he has ordered to such manual labor as he deems most fitting to 
meet the exigency an equivalent number of prisoners of war 
held by the United States, and announces that he will continue 
to order to labor captives in war to a number equal to that of 
all the United States soldiers who he has reason to believe are 
held to service or labor by the Confederate forces, until he 
shall be notified that the alleged practice on the part of the 
Confederate authorities has ceased. 

" Before stating the facts with reference to the particular 
negroes alluded to, I beg to explain the policy pursued by the 
Confederate Government towards this class of persons, when 
captured by its forces. 

" All negroes in the military or naval service of the Un\ted 
States, taken by us, who are not identified as the property of 
citizens or residents of any of the Confederate States, are re- 
garded as prisoners of war, being held to be proper subjects 
of exchange, as I recently had the honor to inform you. 



534 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

" No labor is exacted from such prisoners by the Confederate 
authorities. 

" Neofroes who owe service or labor to citizens or residents 
of the Confederate States, and who, through compulsion, per- 
suasion, or of their own accord, leave their owners, and are 
placed in the military or naval service of the United States, oc- 
cupy a different position. 

'" The right to the service or labor of negro slaves, in the 
Confederate States, is tlie same now as when those States were 
members of the Federal Union. 

" The constitutional relations and obligations of the Confed- 
erate Government to the owners of this species of property, are 
the same as those so frequently and so long recognized as apper- 
taining to the Government of the United States, with reference 
to the same class of persons, by virtue of its organic law. 

" From the eai'liest period of the independence of the Amer- 
ican States, it has been held that one of the duties incumbent 
upon the several common governments under which they have, 
from time to time, been associated, was the return to their law- 
ful owners, of slaves recaptured from the public enemy. It has 
been uniformly held that the capture or abduction of a slave 
does not impair the right of the owner to such slave, but that 
tJie right attaches to him immediately upon recapture. 

" Such was tiie practice of the American States during their 
struggle for independence. The Government under which they 
were then associated, restored to the owners slaves abducted by 
the British forces and subsequently recaptured by the American 
armies. 

" In the war of 1812, with Great Britain, the course pursued 
by the United States Government was the same, and it recog- 
nized the right of the owner to slaves recaptured from the 
enemy. Both the Continental and the United States Govern- 
ments, in fiict, denied that the abduction of slaves was a bel- 



MATTERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 535 

ligereut right, and the Litter power insisted upon and uUiniately 
secured by treaty, pecuniary indemnity from the British Gov- 
ernment for slaves taken by its forces during the war of 1812. 

" And it is supposed that if a negro belonging to a citizen of a 
State in which slavery is recognized, and which is regarded as 
one of the United States, were to escape into the Confederate 
States, or be captured or abducted by their armies, the legal 
right of the owner to reclaim him would be as clear now as in 
1812, the Constitution of the United States being unchanged 
in this particular, and that instrument having been interpreted 
in the judicial decisions, legislative and diplomatic acts and cor- 
respondence of the United States, as imposing upon that Gov- 
ernment the duty of protecting, in all cases coming within the 
scope of its authority, the owners of slaves as well as of any 
other kind of property recognized as such by the several States . 

" The Confederate Government, bound by the same consti- 
tutional obligations, considers, as that of the United States did, 
that the capture or abduction of a negro slave does not preclude 
the lawful owner fx'om reclaiming him when captured ; and I am 
instructed to say that all such slaves when properly identified as 
belonging to citizens of any of the Confederate States, or to 
persons enjoying the protection of their laws, will be restored, 
like other recaptured private property, to those entitled to them. 

' ' Having endeavored to explain the genei'al policy of the 
Confederate Government with regard to this subject, I beg leave 
to state the facts concerning the particular transactions referred 
to in the enclosed communications. 

" The negroes recently captured by our forces were sent to 
Richmond with other Federal prisoners. After their arrival it 
was discovered that a number of them were slaves belonging to 
citizens or residents of some of the Confederate States, and of 
this class fiftv-nine, as I learn, were sent, with other negroes, 



536 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

to work on the fortifications around Richmond until their owners 
should appear and claim them. As soon as I was informed of 
the fact, less than two days afterwards, not wishing to employ 
them here, I ordered them to be sent to the interior. 

" By a misapprehension of the engineer officer in chai'ge, 
they were transferred to our lines south of James River, but 
when apprised of his error I repeated the order for their re- 
moval. If any negroes were included among this number who 
were not identified as the slaves of citizens or residents of some 
of the Confederate States, they were so included without the 
laiowledge or authority of the War Department, as already ex- 
plained, and the mistake, when discovered, would have been 
corrected. 

" It only remains for me to say, that negroes employed upon 
our fortifications are not allowed to be placed where they will 
be exposed to fire, and there is no foundation for any statement 
to the contrary. 

" The author of the communications referred to has consid- 
ered himself justified (by the report of two deserters who do not 
allege that tlie negroes in question were exposed to any dan- 
ger,) In placing our prisoners at labor in the canal at Dutch 
Uap, under the fire of our batteries. 

' ' In view of the explanation of the practice of the Confeder- 
ate Government above given, and of the statement of facts I 
have made, I have now, in accordance with my instructions, 
respectfully to inquire whether the course pursued towards our 
prisoners, as set forth in the accompanying letters, has your 
sanction, and whether it will be maintained? 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
(Signed) R. E. Lee, General:' 



MATTERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 537 

" Headquarters Armies of the United States. 
October 20, 1864 

" Genekal R. E. Lee, C. S. A. Commanding Army of Northern Virginia : 

"General: Understanding, from your letter of the 19th, 
that the colored prisoners who were employed at work in the 
trenches near Fort Gilmer have been withdrawn, I have di- 
rected the withdrawal of the Confederate prisoners employed in 
the Dutch Gap Canal. I shall always regret the necessity for 
retaliating for wrongs done our soldiers, but regard it my duty 
to protect all persons received into the army of the United 
States, regardless of color or nationality. When acknowledged 
soldiers of the Government are captured, they must be treated 
as prisoners of war, or such treatment as they receive will be 
inflicted upon an equal number of prisoners held by us. 

" I have nothing to do with the discussion of the slavery 
question, therefore decline answering the arguments adduced to 
show the rioht to return to former owners such negroes as are 
captured from our army. In answer to the question at the 
conclusion of your letter, I have to state that all prisoners of 
war falling into my hands shall receive the kindest possible 
treatment consistent with securing them, unless I have good 
authority for believing any number of our men are being treated 
otherwise. Then, painful as it may be to me, I shall inflict 
like treatment on an equal number of Confederate prisoners. 

" Hoping that it may never become my duty to order retal- 
iation upon any man held as a prisoner of war, 

I have the honor to be, 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General.''^ 

The winter was now rapidly approaching, and as this is, in 
Eastern Virginia, a season when it is extremely difficult if not 
impossible to conduct military operations, General Grant re- 
68 



538 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

solved to make one more effort to turn Lee's right before go- 
m(r into winter quarters. This time he designed reaching the 
South Side Kaih'oad and destroying it. 

Accordingly his army was put in light marching order, and 
everything prepared for a movement of more than ordinary 
magnitude. Only enough men to hold the line in front of 
Petersburg were left in it, and the remainder of the army was 
provided with five days' rations, and stripped of its superfluous 
baororacre. Nothino^ was left undone that could in the least con- 
tribute to the success of the movement, which, if successful, 
would result in the forced evacuation of Richmond and Peters- 
burg by General Lee. 

At daylight on the 27th of October, the Federal array began 
its march towards Hatcher's Run, where the light of the South- 
ern line rested. General Grant's plan was for the 9th corps, 
supported by the 5th, to make a direct attack in front, while 
Hancock, with the 2nd corps, should cross Hatcher's Run above 
the Confederate right, and, by a detour, gain the Boydton 
plank road, and seize the South Side Railroad. 

Upon reaching the Boydton road. General Grant found it 
protected by the Confederates, who occupied strong earthworks 
extending some distance below the point where the road crosses 
Hatcher's Run. An attack was made on this position by the 
5th and 9th corps, and repulsed. Finding it impossible to carry 
the works by a direct assault, the 5th corps was sent to cooper- 
ate with ILaiicock in turning them. 

General Grant had mistaken the location of the Confederate 
right, and when Hancock reached the point where the intrench- 
ments were supposed to terminate, he found that they extended 
still farther to the right, and were of such a formidable nature 
that it was useless to attempt to carry them. 

Meanwhile General Lee had determined to assume the offen- 
sive, and General A. P. Hill was ordered to attack the enemv 



MATTERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 539 

The presence of the 5th corps was not known to either General 
Hancock or General Lee, and General Warren was equally 
ignorant of the whereabouts of either friends or foes, the thickly- 
wooded country having completely bewildered him in his move- 
ment to Hancock's assistance. General Lee at first intended to 
attack Hancock's left, but finding that his other flank oflfered 
more immediate advantage ordered General Hill to assail it. 

Hill promptly threw forward Heth's command, which crossed 
Hatcher's Ilun between Hancock's right and AVarren's left, and 
made a sharp attack with Mahone's division in front, and Hamp- 
ton's cavalry in the rear. Mahone drove Hancock's riijht back 
for a mile, and captured four hundred prisoners, six pieces of 
artillery, and three standards. He was unable to bring off the 
guns, as he could not get them across the Run. Hampton, at 
the same time struck the enemy's rear, and aided greatly in the 
success of Mahone's attack. 

Hancock brought up his remaining divisions and endeavored 
to drive Mahone from the Boydton road, and regain the position 
lost by his right. Three lines of battle were broken by the 
Confederates, and when night came Mahone still held his ground, 
covering the Boydton road and the South Side Railroad. 

Thus far the movement of General Grant had fixiled. He 
was convinced by this failure that the Confederate position on 
the Boydton road was too strong to be successfully assaulted, 
and being unwilling to keep his ai-my in such an exposed situa- 
tion, he abandoned the movement on the night of the 27th, 
and returned to his old position before Petersburg. The Fed- 
eral loss in this expedition was about two thousand.* 

• "Headquarters Army Northern Virginia, 
October 28, 1S(H. 
"Hon. James A. Seddon, Secretary of Wab: 

" General A. P. Hill reports that the attack of General Heth upon the ene- 
my upon the Boydton plank-road, mentioned in my dispatch last evening, was 
made by three brigades, under General Mahone in front and General Ilamptoi 



540 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Grant's withdrawal was a wise measure, for General Lee had 
massed a strong column of fifteen thousand infantry, and 
Hampton's cavalry, opposite Hancock's position during the night, 
with which he meant to crush the 2d corps at daylight, on the 
28th. Finding the next morning that the enemy had retreated, 
General Lee sent Hampton to harass them in their march, 
which service was successfully performed.* 

After this defeat the Federal army settled down into the quiet 
monotony of winter quarters, and its exam.ple was followed by 
the Confederates, hostilities being confined to outpost and picket 
fighting. 

Early in February, active operations were resumed by Gen- 
eral Grant, in another attempt to turn the Confederate right. 
The expedition was confided to the 2nd and 5th corps, and 
Gregg's cavalry division. The 2d corps was to engage the 
Confederates in front, while the 5th turned their riglit flank. In 

in the rear. INIahone captured four hundred prisoners, three stands of colors 
and six pieces of artillery. The latter could not be brought off, the enemy 
having possession of the bridge. 

"In the attack subsequently made by the enemy, General Mahone broke 
three lines of battle, and during the night the enemy retired from the Boydton 
plank-road, leaving liis wounded and more than two hundred and fifty dead on 
the field. 

" About 9 o'clock p. m., a small force assaulted and took possession of our 
works on the Baxter road, in front of Petersburg, but was soon driven out. 

" On the Williamsburg road yesterday. General Field captured upwards of 
four hundred prisoners and seven stands of colors. The enemy left a number 
of dead in front of our works and returned to his former position to-day. 

R. E. Lee." 

* " HEADQUARTEES AE5IY OF NOKTHEKN ViEGlNIA, 

October 29, 18G4. 
" Hon. James A. Seddox, Secretary of VTak: 

" General Hampton followed the enemy on his withdrawal from Eowanty 

Creek, driving his rear-guard across, and pursuing the cavalry behind the lines 

of their infantry. Several hundred prisoners were captured ; and tlie enemy 

burned some of their caissons and ambulances. Our lines are reestablished. 

(Signed,) E. E. Lee, General." 



MATTERS NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE JAMES. 541 

order to divert attention from this movement, the enemy bom- 
barded the city and Confederate works furiously for several days, 
and on the 5th of February, the expedition began its march, 
and in a few hours reached Hatcher's Run. 

A part of the Federal infantry crossed the Vaughan road, and 
proceeded to Cattail Creek, while Gregg's cavalry moved to 
Dinwiddie Court House. Encountering the Confederate cav- 
alry at that point, Gregg fell back. In the afternoon, parts of 
Hill's and Gordon's corps attacked the column of infantry that 
had moved by the Vaughan road, and had reached the vicinity 
of Armstrong's Mill on the left bank of Hatcher's Run. Find- 
ing the enemy strongly intrenched, they were withdrawn after a 
slight encounter. 

It was reported during the night, that the enemy were re- 
crossing Platcher's Run, and on the morning of the 6th, Pe- 
gram's division moved down the right bank of the stream to re- 
connoitre. It had not proceeded far before it was attacked by 
the 5th corps of the Federal army, and, after a severe conflict 
of several houi's, in which General Pegram was killed, was 
forced back. General Gordon then advanced Evans' division to 
the support of Pegram's command. Evans drove the enemy 
before bira at first, but was at length forced to retire. Finally, 
Mahone's division was brought up, and the 5th corps driven back 
upon the intrenchments of the 2d corps. The Confederates were 
withdrawn, having lost about one thousand men. The Federal 
loss was about two thousand men* * 

♦ " Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia, 
February 6, 1865. 
"GemeealS. Cooper: 

"The enemy moved in strong force yesterday to Hatcher's Run. Part of 
his infantry, with Gregg's cavalry, crossed and proceeded on tlie Vaughan road 
— the infantry to Cattail Creek, the cavalry to Dinwiddie Court House, when 
its advance encountered a portion of our cavalry and retreated. 

" In the afternoon, parts of Hill's and Gordon's troops demonstrated against 
the enemy on the left of Hatcher's Run, near Armstrong's Mill. Finding 



542 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Thouo-h he failed to seize the South Side Raih'oad, the object 
of the expedition, General Grant was enabled by this movement 
to extend his left to Hatcher's Run, and he at once secured it 
by connecting it with the rest of his line by earthworks. 

After the destruction of the Weldon Railroad south of 
Reams' Station, General Lee continued to use it to a point 
within a few miles of the Federal position, hauling his supplies 
from the railroad to Petersburg in wagons. During the winter 
General Grant made several efforts to break up the railroad 
still farther south. The principal of these was Warren's expe- 
dition in December 1864. Taking with him the 5th corps, a 
division of the 2nd corps, and Gregg's cavalry, he set out on 
the 7th of December to break up the railroad twenty-five miles 
southward. That night he reached the Nottoway River, and 
destroyed the bridge over it. On the 8th the track was de- 
stroyed as far south as the Nottoway. 

On the afternoon of the 8th General Hampton made a dasli 
upon the Federal pickets, driving them in upon their main line, 
and repulsed a party of Gregg's cavalry sent after him. He 
then recrossed the Nottoway and reached Bellfield about day- 
light on the morning of the 9th. In the afternoon of that day 
General Warren arrived in front of Bellfield, and attacked the 

liim intrenched, they were withdrawn after dark. During the night, the force 
that had advanced beyond the creek retired to it, and were reported to be re- 
crossing. 

" This morning, Pegram's division moved down the right bank of the creek 
to reconnoitre, when it was vigorously attacked. The battle was obstinately 
contested several hours, but, General Pegrara being killed while bravely en- 
couraging his men, and Colonel Hoffman wounded, some confusion oc- 
curred, and the division was pressed back to its original position. Evans' di- 
vision, ordered by General Gordon to support Pegram's, charged the enemy 
and forced him back, but was, in turn, compelled to retire. Mahone's divi- 
sion arriving, the enemy was driven rapidly to his defences on Hatcher's Eun. 

'■ Our loss is reported to be small; that of the enemy not supposed great. 

R. E. Lee." 



THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 543 

Coufederale posit*u)n there. He was rcpulsetl, and the bridge 
over the JNIeherrin River saved.* Finding the position too 
strong to be carried by his troops, AVarren withdrew on the 
]2th, and returned to his own lines, having destroyed a con- 
siderable extent of the road.f 



V. 

THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 

The events which transpired north of the Potomac, and io 
the Valley of Virginia in the summer and fjill of 18G4 are so 
closely connected with the siege of Petersburg that I have con- 
cluded to present them to the reader under the same general 
head. 

» " ttBADQCARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, 
December 10, 18G4. 

"Hon. James A. Seddon, Secretart of War: 

" General Hampton, after driving tlie enemy's cavalry upon hii infantry, 
on the afternoon of the 8th, recrossed the Nottoway and reached Bellfield 
at daylight yesterday. In the afternoon the enemy attacked the position, but 
was successfully resisted. This morning the enemy is reported retiring and 
Hampton following. The bridge over the Meherrin was saved. Our loss, as 
far as known, is small. The garrison, under Garnett and tlie reserves, be- 
haved well. 

R. E. Lek." 

t "Headquarters Army of northern Virginia, 
December 13, 1864. 

"Hon. James A. Seddon, secretary of War: 

♦• The expedition to Bellfield, under General Warren, returned within 
the enemy's lines yesterday. The two divisions of the 9tli corps which went 
to Warren's relief proceeded no further than Belsches' mill. On meeting the 
returning column, they turned back. 

'• On returning from Bellfield, the enemy moved eastwardly to the Jeru- 
salem and Sussex Court House »oads. Our troops, consequently, only en- 



544 LIFE OF GENEKAL LEE. 

When General Lee sent General Early to drive Hunter from 
Lyncliburg, he also directed him, if possible, to cross the Poto- 
mac, and threaten Washington. The Confederate commander 
was aware of the fears' constantly entertained by the Federal 
Government for the safety of the Capital, and he reasoned that 
1)7 making a bold movement against it, President Lincoln and his 
advisers would become so much alarmed that they would draw 
off from Grant's army a large force for its defence, and that this 
would reduce the strength of the Army of the Potomac to an 
extent sufficient to induce General Grant to abandon the siege 
of Petersburg. Though the result did not meet all of these 
expectations, we shall see that the expedition to Maryland, and 
the subsequent campaign in the Valley, did weaken Grant's 
army to a considerable extent, and to a proportionate degree 
lighten tlie pressure upon the army of General Lee. Indeed it 
is not o-oino- too far to assert that, had General Grant been able 
to use Sheridan's army at Petersburg or Deep Bottom, General 
Lee would have been forced to abandon his lines in the autumn 
of 1864. 

The line of retreat adopted by General Hunter after his re- 
pulse at Lynchburg, opened tlie way for Early, who promptly 
moved down the Valley of Virginia, towards the border. His 
force consisted in all of about fourteen thousand men, — but 
ihey were the troops who had made themselves famous as the 
corps of Stonewall Jackson. Marching rapidly, Early reached 
Martinsburg by the 3d of July, driving off the command of 
General Sigel, which retreated across the Potomac at Shepherds- 
town. The garrison of Harper's Ferry retired to Maryland 

countered their rear guard and pursued no farther than the Nottoway Kiver ; 
and they have returned to camp, bringing a few prisoners. Our loss is very 
slight. The superintendent of the Petersburg and Weldon railroad reports 
that about six miles of the railroad has been broken up. 

R. E. Lee." 



THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 545 

Heights, and Early immediately crossed the Potomac, and, mov- 
ing through Hagerstown, occupied Frederick City on the 7th. 
From this point he could move upon either Baltimo 'e or Wash- 
ington, and to mask his real designs he threatened both places. 
The sudden appearance of so considerable a Confederate 
column north of the Potomac, produced no litl.e dismay at 
AVasliington ; which was reasonable enough, when it is consid- 
ered that the force for the defence of that city, at the time of 
Early's arrival at Hagerstown, did not amount to more than two 
thousand men. Fortunately for the Federals, the lOtli corps, 
which had been ordered from New Orleans to join Grant, after 
tiie failure of the Ked Kiver expedition, had just arrived in 
transports at Fortress Monroe. This force was at once ordered 
to Washington, and General Grant at the same time despatched 
the 6th corps from his own army to the relief of the threatened 
Capital. 

It happened that General Lew Wallace, commanding at Bal- 
timore, as soon as he heard of Early's advance, collected a force 
of about two thousand men, composed of such troops as he 
could lay hands on, and advanced tOAvards Frederick to check 
the Confederates. While on his way he was joined by the ad- 
•inced division of the 6th corps, under General Kicketts. With 
.IS force. General Wallace took position on the left bank of the 
Monocacy River, at the railroad bridge, to dispute the passage 
of the stream, and hold Early in check until the troops on their 
way from the James River could arrive and ensure the safety 
of Washington. 

General Early resolved to attack this force and drive it back, 
and at once left Frederick for that purpose. On the 8th of 
July he reached Frederick Junction, forced the passage of the 
Monocacy, and drove General Wallace from his position, in- 
flicting upon him a loss of a thousand men killed and wounded, 
and seven hundred prisoners. General Wallace retreated 
69 



546 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

towards Pennsylvania, leaving the road to Washington open, 
and Early promptly set out in that direction, sending his cav- 
alry towards Baltimore to cut off the enemy's communications 
Avith the North, and thus secure his own rear. The cavalry 
destroyed a considerable part of the Northern Central Railroad, 
and burned the railroad bridge over Gunp.owder River between 
Baltimore and Philadelphia. 

On the 10th General Early arrived at Rockville, in the vicin- 
ity of Washington, and on the next day advanced his lines to 
the fortifications of the city. He found the works very strong, 
and too well garrisoned to admit of their being captured by him. 
His men had straggled to a considerable extent on the march, 
so that when he reached Washington he had but eight thousand 
infantry, two thousand cavalry, and forty pieces of artillery. 
Since liis advance began, he had marched five hundred miles, 
averaging twenty miles each day, and his command was very 
much broken down. The enemy's force in the works was very 
strong, and the army of General Hunter was closing in upon 
liis rear. In view of all this. General Early wisely determined 
not to hazard an attack upon the city. This being his deter- 
mination, his next care was to bring his army off in safety. 
After sliirmishing for several days before Washington, he 
i-ecrossed the Potomac at White's Ford, on the 14th of July, 
and retreated to the neighborhood of Winchester. He carried 
off with him twenty-five hundred horses and twenty-five hundred 
beef cattle. 

His expedition created the profoundest excitement in the 
North, and it was generally believed that he would capture 
Washington. Some writers on both sides have censured Gen- 
eral Early for his want of enterprise in not making a dash upon 
the city as soon as he arrived before it, alleging that it was so 
weakly garrisoned that it would have fallen before him. Gen- 
eral Early himself, however, declared that he found the works 



THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 547 

Strongly manned by a force too large to be attacked by his own, 
and he is sustained by the direct testimony of General Grant, 
who, in referring to the battle of Monocacy Bridge, says, 
" Although it resulted in a defeat to our arms, yet it detained 
the enemy, and thereby served to enable General Wright to 
reach Washington witli two divisions of tlie 6th corps and the 
advance of the 19th corps, before him" (Early).* 

When General Early retreated from before Washington, 
General Wright made an effort at pursuit, but, being repulsed 
in an engagement with the Confederate rear-guard at Snicker's 
Ferry, withdrew to Washington. 

Being convinced that Early was retreating up the Valley, 
General Grant ordered the return of the 6th and 19th corps to 
the lines of Petersburg, that they might be used in a movement 
against Lee before the return of the troops sent by him into the 
valley. f While the corps were en route for the James, how- 
ever, General Early again assumed the offensive. He moved 
down the Valley and sent a raiding party of cavalry, under 
General McCausland, into Pennsylvania, which, on the 30tli 
of July, burned the town of Chambersburg in retaliation for 
tiie outrages of the enemy in Virginia. 

This movement showed General Grant that it would be 
necessary to station something more than a mere corps of ob- 
servation in the Valley of Virginia, and he directed the 6th and 
l-9th corps to suspend their movement to the James, iw.d return 
to Washington. From that city they v. ere sent to Harper's 
Ferry. General Grant now combined the old departments of 
Washington, the Susquehanna, West Virginia, and the Middle 
department, into one command, which was styled the Middle 
Military Division, and assigned to General Hunter. The new 
commander, having expressed a willingness to be relieved, was 

* General Grant's Eeport, p. 15. f General Grant's Report, p. 15. 



548 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

soon afterwards succeeded by Major-General Sheridan, who was 
transferred from the Army of the Potomac. 

General Grant's choice was fortunate. Sheridan was the 
commander best suited for the task assigned him. An edu- 
cated soldier, he joined to his theoretical knowledge a clear 
conception of the necessities and requirements of the campaign 
vvliich was before him, and an energy and pugnacity that ren- 
dered him a dangerous antagonist under any circumstances. 
He was given an army of forty thousand men, consisting of the 
6th and 19th corps, and the infantry and cavalry of the old de- 
partment of West Virginia. The cavalry under his command 
numbered ten thousand men, splendidly armed and equipped, — 
in short, the finest body of horse ever seen in America. Sheri- 
dan took command of his army on the 7th of August, but for 
some time nothing of importance occurred in his department. 

Meanwhile General Lee had determined to hold Early's 
army in the Valley. His chief desire was to induce General 
Grant to raise the siege of Petersburg, and, as he was too 
weak to accomplish this by offensive movements on the Appo- 
mattox, he determined to use Early's column as a means of 
gaining his object, and on the 4th of August he sent Kershaw's 
division of Longstreet's corps, and Fitz Lee's division of cav- 
alry to cooperate with him. General Lee's intentions, as he 
explained them to his lieutenants, were to send Kershaw and 
Fitz Lee to the neighborhood of Culpepper Court House. Fitz 
Lee was to move down towards Alexandria, and reconnoitre 
the enemy's position in that quarter, and if his information and 
discoveries as to the disposition and strength of the enemy's 
forces on the Potomac should warrant such a step, he and Ker- 
shaw were to cross the river near Leesburg, while Early was to 
enter Maryland higher up the stream, and the two columns, 
acting in concert, were to make a domonstration in the direction 
of Washington, which, if opportunity offered, was to be con- 



THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 549 

•verted into a real attack. The cavalry of Fitz Lee and the in- 
fantry of Kershaw were both placed under the command of 
Lieutenant-General Anderson, who commanded Longstreet's 
corps (lurins; the absence of the wounded general. General 
Lee lioped that, as this fact Avould be known to General Grant, 
it wonld induce the latter to believe that the Confederate army 
liad been weakened by the removal of Longstreet's whole corps, 
and that the Federal commander would either reduce his own 
strength to reenforce his troops on the Potomac, or venture to 
attack the Southern position at Petersburg, — the latter step 
being particularly desired by General Lee at this time.* 

The plan was not to be carried out, events defeating it before 
it could be fairly entered upon. General Anderson moved 
promptly to Culpepper Court House, and had just reached it 
when he received a dispatch from General Earl\^ stating tliat 
he (Early) had been forced, by the concentration of a heavy 
Federal force in the Lower Valley, to fall back to Fisher's Hill, 
and urging General Anderson to send him reenforcements. 
Anderson at once set out to Early's assistance, passed the Blue 
Ridge at Chester Gap, and, on the loth of August, reached 
Fnmt Royal. He found that Early wms at Strasburg, ten miles 
distant, and that the road between the two places, which winds 
along the base of the Massanutten, or Fort Mountain, was held 
by'the enemy, who were also in heavy force in Early's front. 

Anderson at once perce'ived that the position of the enemy 
offered an excellent opportunity for a combined attack by his 
own and Early's columns, and in order to arrange the details 
for this movement, sent General Fitz Lee at daybreak on the 
16th, to communicate the plan to General Early, Fitz Lee 
took with him only one staff officer, and, as the road was in 
possession of the enemy, they set out on mules, ascended the 
steep side of the mountain, and descended the opposite side in 

* The Lost Cause. By E. A. Pollard, p. 59L 



550 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

this manner, reached Early's headquarters in safety, arranged 
the plan of battle, and returned to General Anderson by day- 
light on the 17th. 

The enemy, however, had discovered the presence of General 
Anderson, and, alarmed for their safety, had commenced tore- 
treat, throwing out their cavalry on the morning of the Ifith, 
and occupying Guard Hill, on the north side of the Shenan- 
doah, opposite Front Koyal, to cover their withdrawal. An- 
derson feared that the force on Guard Hill would be increased 
and the position fortified, and, in the afternoon of the IGth, he 
sent a brigade of cavalry and one of infantry to drive the en- 
emy from it, and the hill was secured after a sharp engagement. 
The retreat of the Federals being now discovered, Anderson, 
on the morning of the 17th, advanced from Front Eoyal in pur- 
suit, and at the same time Early moved out from Strasburg. 
The two Confederate columns were united before Winchester, 
and the Federals were driven through the town with the loss 
of one gun and a number of prisoners. The pursuit was con- 
tinued the next day, and the enemy withdrew to Maryland 
Heights and Harper's Ferry. 

Under an energetic and skilful commander, the Confederate 
army in the Valley might have accomplished higlily beneficial 
results ; but, unfortunately, a state of affairs arose which ef- 
fectually destroyed every prospect of success. It seems tlfat 
Anderson and Early had both been made lieutenant-generals on 
the same day, thus making them b}- their last commissions of 
equal rank. As major-generals, however, Anderson was the 
senior officer, and therefore justly Early's superior in this case. 
Being in Early's department he was unwilling to take command 
of the whole army, and as Early, by reason of being the junior 
officer, could not assume it, the army was in reality left without 
a head, and the golden opportunity was wasted. The chance 
for pressing Sheridan back over the Potomac, and compelling 



THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 551 

Grant to reenforce him to a still greater degree was suffered to 
pass by unimproved, and for nearly a month matters went on in 
this way. At last, General Lee, seeing that his plan of opera- 
tions had been suffered to remain neglected, ordered General 
Anderson to return with Kershaw's division to Culpepper Court 
House, where he would be in a position to move to the assist- 
ance of either the army at Petersburg and Richmond or that in 
the Valley. On the 15th of September Kershaw set out for 
Culpepper. 

Early was now in the vicinity of Winchester, to which point 
he had moved back for the purpose of supplying his army more 
easily. Sheridan was between Charlestown and Berryville, 
with his advance lying around the latter town, and the pickets 
of the hostile forces were within a few miles of each other. 
Early's force, after Anderson's withdrawal, numbered eight 
thousand five hundred infimtry, less than three thousand cavalry 
and about thirty-six pieces of artillery — in all about one third 
as many men as followed Sheridan. In cavalry especially were 
the Confederates unequal to the task before them. Opposed to 
the ten thousand splendidly armed horsemen of Torbert and 
Wilson, Early had but two skeleton divisions under Fitz Lee 
and Lomax. The horses had been fed on hay — and very little 
of that — for some time, and were quite weak, and the men 
were in a wretched state from the lack of discipline which pre- 
vailed. They were armed almost exclusively with Enfield rifles 
or muskets, scarcely any of them having either pistols or sabrc.>;. 

The task assigned to General Early was almost similar to that 
so brilliantly performed by General Jackson in the spring and 
early summer of 1862. He was to prevent the whole strengtli 
of the enemy from being concentrated against General Lee, lo 
gather in the harvests of the Shenanhoah Valley, and protect 
the Central Railroad. He was in the same re<2;ion whicii Jack- 
son had made glorious, and had under him many of the men of 



552 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

the Old Valley Army. But the gi-eat master was no longer at 
the head of his veterans, his ablest successor was kept at Rich- 
mond by physical sufferings, and his mantle had not fallen upon 
General Early. 

Still General Early was a good soldier. As a corps com- 
mander he had proved himself an able officer, and had won a high 
reputation by his stubborn courage and hard fighting. He was 
not competent to an independent command. He lacked the 
genius to form great conceptions, and the ability to execute them 
as the emergency required. He was a brave, hard-working, 
pains-taking man, and thoroughly devoted to the cause in which 
he was engaged. He was most cruelly and wickedly slandered 
when his reverses befell him. He was charged with drunken- 
ness, among other things, and this charge was bandied about 
the country to such an extent that " Early and his apple-jack" 
became a byword. A Committee of the Confederate Congress 
investigated this charge, and, failing to discover any evidence 
against him, acquitted him of it. At first General Early was 
very popular with his troops, and his eccentricities made him a 
hero in their eyes. A newspaper correspondent, writing at the 
time, thus speaks of him : 

" Old Jubal Early, or as General Lee calls him, his bad old 
man, has won a name during his sojourn in the Valley of Vir- 
oinia of which he is well worthy. Did you ever see him ? If 
not, you have missed one of the greatest curiosities of the war. 
He is a man of considerable corporosity, with a full face, which 
lias the appearance of the full moon when it is at its height in 
redness. He is about six feet high, and of immense structure. 
His voice sounds like a cracked Cliinese fiddle, and comes from 
his mouth somewdiat in the style of a hardsliell Baptist, witli a 
long drawl, accompanied with an interi^olation of oaths, in 
the winter his head is encased in a net striped woollen skull-cap, 
drawn down over his ears, while his body is contained within 



THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 553 

the embraces of a Virginia cloth overcoat, striking his heels. 
His legs are covered by leggins of the same material, wrapped 
fi'om the feet upwards as high as the knees with white tape. 
He is as brave as he is homely, and as homely as any man you 
ever saw, except Parson Brownlow, who is said to rival his 
Satanic Majesty in his personal appearance. There are many 
anecdotes related of old Jubal, but I cannot at present call 
to memory but one. During the battles in the AVilderness, on 
one occasion a regiment from South Carolina was ordered to 
charge the enemy. For some reason they faltered. Old Jubal 
hearing of it, rode up to the head of the column, and in that 
peculiar tone for which he is noted, cried out at the top of his 
voice, ' Boys you got us into this d — d scrape, and you shall 
lielp us out. Charge ! ' The regiment rushed upon the foe, 
driving him from every position." 

After Kershaw left him, Early disposed his army in the fol- 
lowing order : Eamseur's division of infantry, and Wickham's 
division of cavalry (Fitz Lee liaving been placed in command 
of all the cavalry) were posted at Winchester. Wharton's 
division of infantry, and Lomax's division of cavalry were at 
Stephenson's depot on the railroad, about five miles from Win- 
chester. Rodes' and Gordon's divisions, under Early's imme- 
diate command, were marched to Martinsburg to destroy the 
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Thus the army was scattered 
over twenty-two miles of country, and the separated portions 
were so weak that it would require but little effort on the part 
of tlie enemy to destroy them. Sheridan's position was such as 
to enable him to seriously endanger the safety of Early's com- 
munications, and the error into whicli the Confederate com- 
mander had lallen was so decided aa to invite attack from the 
superior forces of the enemy. 

Hitherto General Sheridan had been held to a strict defensive 
by General Grant, but by the middle of September the Federal 



554 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Commander-in-Chief became convinced that it was advisable to 
allow his lieutenant to carry out his aggressive designs, and 
accordingly ordered him to attack Early and destroy his army, 
leaving Sheridan unfettered by any further instructions. It so 
happened that this permission was accorded by General Grant 
just as Early committed the fatal error of dividing his weak 
army in the presence of such a powerful adversary. Sheri- 
dan at once perceived the blunder, and determined to seize 
Winchester before Early could return to it, and on the after- 
noon of the 18th of September, marched from Berry ville with 
his whole army. 

On the morning of the 18th, General Early, having finished 
his business at IMartinsburg, set out on his return to Winchester, 
and, in total ignorance of Sheridan's movement, bivouacked 
that nio-ht with Gordon's and Rodes' divisions at Bunker Hill, 
twelve miles north of Winchester. 

At daylight on the morning of the 19th of September, the 
6th corps of the Federal army, drove in the pickets at Win- 
chester, and opened a sharp attack upon Kamseur's division, 
about fifteen hundred sti-ong, posted beyond the town. Fitz 
Lee at once threw Wickham's cavalry division (also about fifteen 
hundred strong) on Ramseur's left, and these three thousand 
men held their ground bravely against nearly six times their 
number,* resisting successfully every attack until eleven o'clock, 
when Early arrived from Bunker Hill with Rodes' division. 
Rodes' men were thrown forward to support Ramscur, and in a 
short time General Rodes was killed, Gordon's division now 
came up, and was posted on the extreme left, and soon after 
Wharton and Lomax made their appearance from the railroad, 
where they had been holding back Torbert's cavalry division 
which Sheridan had sent to cut off the divisions of Rodes and 

*Tlie opposing forces were the 6th corps and Wilson's cavalry division of 
Slieridan's army. 



THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN, 555 

Gordon in their march from Bunker Hill. The Southern cav- 
alry were now transferred to the right to prevent Wilson's 
cavalry from gaining the Valley Turnpike in rear of Win- 
chester. 

Just before AVharton arrived, Gordon made a o:allant charsre 
with his division, driving the enemy back in his front, but, 
venturing too far, was himself attacked and forced back, fol- 
lowed hotly by the enemy. The Federals were checked in their 
advance, and thrown into confusion by the horse artillery of 
Major Breathed, which had been concealed under the edge of a 
hill on Gordon's left, and then hurried to the crest immediately 
after the Federals had passed by in their pursuit of Gordon. 
Gordon, taking advantage of this, rallied his troops, and, before 
the enemy could recover from their confusion, made a furious 
charge upon them, and drove them from the field. 

It now seemed that the Federal army was to be defeated, 
and General Early began to congratulate himself upon his suc- 
cess, when suddenly the prize was w:rested from his grasp, for 
at this moment the 8th corps (Crook's) arrived and took posi- 
tion on the Federal right, forcing Gordon to stop his advance, 
and f;ill back. Wharton's infantry now came up, and were 
placed on Gordon's left. At the same time Torbert's cavalry, 
which had been held in check by Wharton, arrived, and formed 
on Crook's right. Their line was semicircular in shape, com- 
pletely overlapping the Confederate left, and threatening the 
line of retreat of the army. 

At four o'clock. General Sheridan threw forward his army in a 
general charge, and his cavalry, sweeping around, fell upon the 
Confederate rear, and seemed by their great strength about to 
envelope the whole Southern army. The country was perfectly 
open, and the movement could be seen by the Confederates. 
Unable to resist any longer, and fearful of being surrounded, 
they broke in disorder, and fled rapidly through Winchester with 
the enemy in pursuit. 



556 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Early's loss was over three thousand men, of whom twenty- 
five hundred were prisoners. Among the killed were Generals 
liodes and Godwin. Five guns and nine battle-flags were also 
captured by the enemy. The Federal loss was severe, includ- 
ing General Russell, a division commander of the 6th corps, 
kiHed.* 

General Early retreated to Fisher's Hill, near Strasburg, and 
occupied a position of great strength. Concerning this position, 
a Confederate officer Ikis well said : " When Early took a po- 
sition on the great range of hills above Strasburg, and waited 
to be attacked, he committed an error under the circumstances, 
which the General liimself, at this day, would probably acknowl- 
edge. The ground there is unsuitable to receive an attack upon, 
unless the force standing on the defensive is strong enough to 
reach from mountain to mountain. General Jackson is said to 
have expressed this opinion, and it is certain that he never made a 
stand there. General Early did so, and was flanked on the left." 

Sheridan followed Early closely, and on the 22nd of Septem- 
ber, moved forward to make a direct attack on the Confederate 
position, at the same time, sending two divisions of cavalry un- 
der Torbert by the Luray Valley, to gain New JNIarket, twenty 
miles in Early's rear. Perceiving that Early was not strong 
enough to avail himself of the advantages of his position, Sher- 
idan sent a corps of infantry to turn the Southern left at North 

* " IlEADQUAnTEKS ARMY OF NOP.THERJI VlUOINIA, 

September 20. 
" Hox. James A. Seudon: 

•'General Early reports that, on the morning of the lOth, the enemy ad- 
vanced on Winchester, near which place he met his attack, which was resisted 
from early in the day till near night, when he was compelled to retire. After night 
he fell back to Newtown, and this morning to Fisher's Hill. Our loss reported 
to be severe. Major-General Rodes and Brigadier-General Godwin were 
killed, nobly doing their duty. Three pieces of artillery, of King's battalion, 
■were lost. Tlie trains and sux)plies were brought oflT safely. 

(Signed,) R. E. Lee ' 



THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 557 

Mountain. This was accomplished, and at the same time an at- 
tack was made in front. Early's line was broken, his troops 
driven from their intrenchments, and forced to retreat up the 
Valley with the loss of sixteen guns, and several hundred pris- 
oners. 

General Sheridan expected to capture Early's army, as he 
was confident that Torbert would be able to occupy New Mar- 
ket, and thus close Early's line of retreat. This would have 
occurred but for the gallant stand made by the small cavalry di- 
vision of General Wickham, on the same day. This little band 
held the Federal cavalry in check at Milford all day, and thus 
enabled General Early to secure his retreat to the upper passes 
of the Blue Ridge. By this time. Early had less than five thous- 
and men, and had lost more than half of his artillery. Sheri- 
dan pursued as far as Staunton, and there, after destroying a 
part of the Virginia Central Railroad, withdrew his army be- 
hind Cedar Creek. 

The successes of General Sheridan were stained with cruelties 
and barbarism. During his advance and withdrawal, lie made 
the Valley a desert, inflicting such suffering upon its inhabitants 
as they had never known before. Not even Pope or Hunter 
had gone so far in this inhuman work. General Sheridan shall 
tell his own story. In his dispatch to his Government, he says : 
" In moving back to this point, the whole country, from the 
Blue Ridge to the North Mountain, has been made entirely un- 
tenable for a rebel army. I have destroyed over two thousand 
barns filled with wheat and hay and farming implements ; over 
seventy mills filled with flour and wheat ; have driven in front 
of the army over four thousand head of stock, and have killed 
and issued to the troops not less than three thousand sheep. 
This destruction embraces the Luray Valley and the Little Fort 
Valley, as well as the main Valley."* 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 560. 



558 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

The destruction of crops and provisions is always an extreme 
measure, and is resorted to by humane commanders with great 
reluctance; for, while it is true that these supplies, if not de- 
stroyed, go to subsist the enemy. It Is also true that their destruc- 
tion entails great suffering upon unoffending non-combatants. 
Still, as a means of crippling an enemy, the destruction Is allow- 
able. But nothing can be said in vindication of the destruction 
of the mills and agricultural implements, to destroy which was 
simply to bring the inhabitants of the Valley to a state of starv- 
ation, and to curse them with poverty long after the close of the 
war. It was an act unworthy of the source from which it ema- 
nated, and which must always remain a stain upon the fame of 
him who ordered and him who performed It. 

A Northern writer, whose devotion to the Union does not 
warp his sense of justice, thus refers to General Sheridan's 
conduct : — 

" This dread bulletin recites acts some of which are indefensi- 
ble. The destruction of the ci'ops, provisions, and forage Avas 
allowable; for this deprived the enemy of Immediate subsistence, 
and operated to the end to Induce him to surrender. But the 
burning of the mills and farming implements cannot be justified, 
for that was to Inflict vengeance upon the country for many years 
to come. It may, indeed, be said that the desolation of the 
Shenandoah Valley was a special measure designed to cover 
the frontier of the loyal States from invasion ; but this, though 
plausible. Is not a sufficient reason. I have cited, above, the 
destruction of the Palatinate, and the case is quite in point, 
both In respect to the act Itself and the verdict history will pro- 
nounce thereon. ' When,' says a legal writer of the highest 
authority, ' the French armies desolated with fire and sword the 
Palatinate In 1674, and again in 1689, there was a general 
outcry throughout Europe against such a mode of carrying on 
war ; and when the French minister, Louvols, alleged that the 



THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 559 

object in view was to cover the French frontier against the inva- 
sion of the enemy, the advantage which France derived from 
the act was universally held to be inadequate to the suffering 
inflicted, and the act itself to be, therefore, unjustifiable.'" * 

General Sheridan was not alone to blame in these outrages. 
He was acting under the orders of General Grant. f 

After retiring to the Upper Valley, General Early was re- 
enforced by Kershaw's division, now reduced to twenty-seven 
hundred men, and about six hundred cavalry. His losses in 
artillery were also made up, and his force amounted to about 
nine thousand men, and forty pieces of artillery. 

On the 9th of October Rosser's cavalry, which was harass- 
ing Sheridan's rear, were attacked and routed on the Strasburg 
Turnpike, with a loss of eleven pieces of artillery and several 
hundred prisoners. 

Early continued to move down the turnpike, and by the 18th 
of October arrived at Cedar Creek, between Strasburg and 
AYinchester. He found the Federal army posted along the east 
bank of Cedar Creek, behind intrenchments admirably located. 
The 6th corps (temporarily under General Eicketts) , was on the 
right, the 19th (Emory's) in the centre, and the 8th (Crook's) 
on the left. The cavalry divisions of Custar and Merritt were 
posted on the right, and that of Averill on the left. Owing to 
the temporary absence of General Sheridan, the army was com- 
manded by General Wright. 

The Federal position was very strong, and Early's force very 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 5G0. 

fit is true that General Grant wrote to Sheridan on the 5th of August, " It 
is not desirable that the buildings should be destroyed, — they should rather 
be protected " ; but he also wrote to the same officer, at a later date, — "Do 
all the damage you can to the railroad and crops. Carry off stock of all de- 
scriptions, and negroes, so as to prevent further planting. If the war is to last 
another year, let the Shenandoah Valley remain a barren waste. — U. S. Grant." 
New York Herald, Ocioher 5, 1864. 



560 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE- 

weak, yet, by surprising the enemy and striking a powerful and 
unexpected blow,' General Early hoped to gain a victory. He 
resolved, therefore, to attack at once, making a feint with artil- 
lery and cavalry against the enemy's right, while with his 
infantry he would fall upon their left, where the 8th corps was 
posted. 

He beo-an his march at midnio;ht on the 18th, and hurried on 
all niuht over a ru2:2;ed road, where sometimes his men could 
scarcely keep their footing, moving towards the north foi'k of 
the Shenandoah, which was crossed at dawn by a ford about a 
mile to the east of the mouth of Cedar Creek. This march of 
seven miles was successfully performed, and when daylight 
came, the movement was hidden from the enemy by a thick fog. 
The enemy had no idea of the danger which threatened them, 
and, moving on quickly, Early brought his infantry in the rear 
of the Federal left flank, while the troops of that army were 
either at breakfast or in bed. 

It was the anniversary of the surrender of Yorktown to the 
Continental army, — the 10th of October, — a glorious day 
for a victory, and it seemed that a great success was now within 
Early's grasp. Rapidly forming his line, he swept down upon 
Crook's camp, driving everything before him, and at the sound 
of his ffuns the force he had left in front of the Federal ri2:ht 
crossed the creek, and drove back that part of the line (the 19th 
corps) upon the 6th corps, -which w\as posted a little in the 
rear in reserve. The camp of the enemy, with everything it 
contained, eighteen pieces of artillery, and fifteen hundred pris- 
oners, was captured. The surprise was complete, and the 
enemy, bewildered and panic-stricken, were flying down the 
Valley Turnpike, while Early, firing rapidly from the guns he 
liad taken, moved on steadily in pursuit. 

Seeing that it was his only chance for rallying and reuniting 
liis army. General Wright ordered the 6th corps to retreat, and 



THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 561 

fell back, covering the flight of the fugitives. Upon reaching 
Midclletown, General Wriglit attempted to rally his men, and 
take up a position to resist Early's advance. The Confederates 
followed closely, and made a threatening demonstration against 
the Federal left, when Wright resumed his retreat down the 
Valley. 

The Confederates now abandoned the pursuit, and the mnjor- 
ity of them also forsook their colors, and commenced to plunder 
the captured camp, which was rich in spoils. By this out- 
rageous conduct, — which General Early seems to have tried 
to check, — the army was demoralized, and the fruits of its 
brilliant victory lost. 

When General Wright retreated beyond ]Middletov/n he was 
by no means en route for Winchester, as General Early sup- 
posed. At the first suitable position between Middletowu and 
Xewtown, he halted and re-formed his line, and by half past 
ten o'clock A. M. was in readiness either to meet a new attack 
from Early, or to try to regain his lost camp. 

At this moment. General Sheridan, who had heard the firing 

at Winchester, "twenty miles away," at daybreak, and v/lio 

liad ridden hard all morning to reach the field in time, arrived. 

Although his presence greatly encouraged his men. General 

Wright had re-formed the army and opened the way for the 

victory which followed. Sheridan waited for sometime to receive 

Early's attack, but finding that the latter did not advance, 

moved back to regain his lost camp. His task was an easy one. 

Early's men were utterly demoralized, and had lost all spirit. 

Gordon's division gave way at once, Kershaw's and Ramseur's 

quickly followed, and the army was soon in rapid and disorderly 

flight up the Valley. Sheridan halted his infantry in his old 

camp, and sent his cavalry across the creek in pursuit. This 

force harassed the Confederates as far as Strasburg, when the 

darkness put an end to the operations. Early halted for the 
71 



562 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

night at Flslier's Hill, and the next day continued his retreat 
southward . 

Sheridan recaptured all the guns he had lost in the morning 
and took twenty-three others besides, he also retook his camp, 
and captured fifteen hundred prisoners, as many as he had lost 
in the early part of the day. 

After this defeat General Early issued the following address 
to his ti'oops : 

*' Headquakters Valley District, 
October 22, 18G4. 

"Soldiers op the Army of the Valley: 

"I had hoped to have congratulated you on the splendid 
victory won by you on the morning of the 19th at Belie Grove, 
on Cedar Creek, when you surprised and routed two corps of 
Sheridan's army and drove back several miles the remaining 
corps, capturing eighteen pieces of artillery, one thousand five 
hundred prisoners, a number of colors, a large quantity of 
small arms, and many wagons and ambulances, with the entire 
Camps of the two routed corps; but 1 have the mortification of 
announcing to you that, by your subsequent misconduct, all the 
benefits of that victory were lost and a serious disaster incurred. 
Had you remained steadfast to your duty and your colors, the 
victory would have been one of the most brilliant and decisive 
of the war ; you would have gloriously retrieved the reverses at 
Winchester and Fisher's Hill, and entitled yourselves to the 
admiration and gratitude of your country. But many of you, 
including some couHuissioned officers, yielding to a disgraceful 
propensity for plunder, deserted your colors to appropriate to 
yourselves the abandoned property of the enemy, and subse- 
quently those who had previously remained at their posts, seeing 
their ranks thinned by the absence of t!ie plunderers, when the 
enemy, late in the afternoon, with his shattered columns, made 
but a feeble effort to retrieve the fortunes of the day, yielded 



THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 563 

to a needless panic and fled the field in confusion, thereby con- 
verting a splendid victory into a disaster. 

" Had any respectable number of you listened to the appeals 
made to you, and made a stand, even at the last moment, the disas- 
ter would have been averted and the substantial fruits of victory 
secured; but under the insane dread of being flanked, and a 
panic-stricken terror of the enemy's cavalr}', you would listen 
to no appeal, threat, or order, and allowed a small body of cav- 
alry to penetrate to our train, and carry off a number of pieces 
of artillery and wagons, which ^'our disorder left unprotected. 
You have thus obscured that glorious fame won in conjunction 
with the gallant men of the Army of Northern Virginia, who 
still remain proudly defiant in the trenches around Richmond 
and Petersburg. Before you can again claim them as com- 
rades, you will have to erase from your escutcheons the blem- 
ishes which now obscure them ; and this you can do if you will 
but be true to your former reputation, your country and your 
homes. You who have fought at Manassas, Richmond, Sharps- 
burg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and from 
the Wilderness to the banks of James River ; and especially 
you who were with the immortal Jackson in all his triumphs, 
are capable of better things. 

" Arouse yourselves, then, to a sense of your manhood and 
appreciation of the sacred cause in which you are enagaged ! 
Yield to the mandates of discipline ; resolve to stand by your 
colors in future at all hazards, and you can yet retrieve your 
reputation and strike eflective blows for your country and its 
cause. Let every man spurn from him the vile plunder gath- 
ered on the field of the 19th ; and let no man, whatever his rank, 
whether combatant or non-combatant, dare exhibit his spoils of 
that day. They will be badges of his dishonor ; the insignia of 
his disgrace. The oiBScer who pauses in the career of victoiy to 
place a guard over a sutler's wagon, for his private use, is as 



564 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

bad as the soldier who halts to secure for himself the abandoned 
clothin"- or money of a flying foe, and they both sell the honor 
of the army and the blood of their country for a paltry price. 
He who follows his colors into the ranks of the enemy in pur- 
suit of victory, disdaining the miserable passion for gathering 
booty, comes out of the battle with his honor untarnished ; and 
tliough barefooted and ragged, is far more to be envied than he 
who is laden with rich spoils gathered in the trail of his victori- 
ous comrades. There were some exceptions to the general mis- 
conduct on the afternoon of the 19th, but it would be difficult to 
specify them all. Let those who did their duty be satisfied with 
the consciousness of having done it, and mourn that their efforts 
were paralyzed by the misbehavior of others. Let them be con- 
soled, to some extent, by the reflection that the enemy has noth- 
ing to boast of on his part. 

" The artillery and wagons taken were not won by his valor. 
His camps were destroyed, his army terribly shattered and de- 
moralized, his losses far heavier than ours, even in proportion 
to the relative strength of the armies ; his plans materially im- 
peded ; and he was unable to pursue by reason of his crippled 
condition. Soldiers of the Army of the Valley, I do not speak 
to you In anger ; I wish to speak in kindness, though in sorrow. 
My purpose is to show you the causes of our late misfortune, and 
point out the way to avoid similar ones in future, and ensm-e 
success to our arms. Success can only be secured by the en- 
forcement and observance of the most rigid discipline. Officers, 
whatever their rank, must not only give orders, but set tlie ex- 
ample of obeying them, and the men must follow that example. 

" Fellow-soldiers, 1 am ready to lead you again in defence of 
our common cause, and I appeal to you, by the remembrance of 
the glorious career in which you have formerly participated, by 
the woes of your bleeding country, the ruined homes and devas- 
tated fields you see around you, the cries of anguish which come 



THE VALLEY CAMPAIGN. 565 

up from the widows and orphans of your dead comrades, the 
horrors which await you and all that is yours in the futiuc, 
if your country is subjugated, and your hopes of freedom for 
yourselves and your posterity, to render a cheerful and willing 
obedience to the rules of discipline, and to shoulder your muskets 
again with the determination never more to turn your backs upon 
the foe, but to do battle like men and soldiers until the last ves- 
tige of the footsteps t/f our barbarous and cruel enemies is erased 
from the soil they desecrate, and the independence of our coun- 
try is firmly established. If you will do tiiis, and rely upon the 
protecting care of a just and merciful God, all will be well ; 
you will again be what you once were, and I will be proud to 
lead you once more to battle. 

J. A. Early, Lieutenant-General.'^ 

The battle of Cedar Creek was the last event of importance 
in the Valley campaign, and practically closed it. The defeat 
experienced by General Early and the desolation of the Valley 
by General Sheridan, made it impossible for a Confederate army 
to remain in that region. Towards the close of the fall, the 
remains of Gordon's, Kamseur's and Rodes' divisions (the old 
2d corps) were placed under General Gordon's command, and 
sent back to Petersburg. Breckenridge's division was transferred 
to Southwestern Virginia, and almost all of the cavalry were fur- 
loughed for the winter, the Government being unable to provide 
forage for the horses. General Early was left in command of 
the Valley Department, with his headquarters at Staunton, and 
the wreck of Wharton's division comprised his army. 

His failures made the unfortunate general the object of a 
great deal of the popular indignation, more in fact than he de- 
served, and this ran so high that towards the close of the war, 
General Lee was compelled to relieve him of his command. 
Yet, sympathizing with him, General Lee sought to soften his 
mortification by the following generous letter : 



566 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

" Headquartbks C. S. Akmies, 
March 30, 1865. 

" Lieut. Gen. J. A. Eaklt, Franklin C H. Va. 

"Dear Sir: My telegram will have informed you that I 
deem a change of commanders in your department necessary, 
but it is due to your zealous and patriotic services that I should 
explain the reasons that prompted my action. The situation of 
affairs is such that we cannot neglect any means calculated to 
develop the resources we possess to the greatest extent, and 
make them as efficient as possible. To this end it is essential 
that we should have the cheerful and hearty support of the 
people and the full confidence of the soldiers, without which 
our means of resistance is weakened. 

" I have reluctantly arrived at the conclusion that you can- 
not command the united and willing cooperation which is so es- 
sential to success. Your reverses in the Valley, of which the 
public and the army judge chiefly by the results, have, I fear, 
impaired your influence both with the people and the soldiers, 
and would add greatly to the difficulties which will, under any 
circumstances, attend our military operations in Southwestern 
Virginia, While my own confidence in your ability, zeal, and 
devotion to the cause is unimpaired, I have nevertheless felt 
that I could not oppose what seems to be the current of opin- 
ion without injustice to your reputation and injury to the ser- 
vice. I therefore felt consti'ained to endeavor to find a com- 
mander who would be more likely to develop the strength and 
resources of the country, and inspire the soldiers with confi- 
dence ; and to accomplish this purpose thought it proper to 
yield my own opinion, and defer to that of those to whom alone 
we can look for support. I am sure that you will understand 
and appreciate my motives, and that no one will be more ready 
than yourself to acquiesce in any measures v/hich the interests 
of the country may seem to require, regardless of all personal 



WINTER QUARTERS. 5G7 

considerations. Thanking you for the fidelity and energy with 
which you have always supported my efforts, and for the cour- 
age and devotion you have ever manifested in the service of the 
country, 

I am, very respectfully and truly. 

Your obedient servant, 

R. E. Lee, General:' 



WINTER QUARTERS. 

When active operations ceased before Petersburg, both armies 
went into winter quarters, — the Federals surrounded by every 
comfort that their Government could furnish them witii, and 
the Confederates to brave out the long, cold season, and battle 
with hunger and privation with little to encourage them, and a 
Government too indifferent to care for their sufferings. 

During the winter the citizens of Eichmond and Petersburo- 
prepared to give Lee's army a Xew Year's dinner. Contribu- 
tions were liberally made, but owing to the unfortunate manner 
in which the distribution of the provisions was conducted, the 
good intentions of the citizens were practically defeated.* 

* Tlie following letter humorously describes the clisuppointmeut of the 
army : 

" I presume thousands of rebels, like myself, expected really a good treat 
to the inner man, and plenty of it, basing their expectations upon the colossal 
preparations in Richmond, the great number of Confederate dollars contrib- 
uted by worthy and patriotic citizens, the glaring articles in the newspapers, 
and the names of the gentlemen who composed the committee, satisfied all of 
them that it would be a good tiling ; and, laboring under tiiese impressions, 
we prepared accordingly, setting our incisors. The quartermaster and com- 
missary were to have nothing to do with the 'Sumptuous feast, nor were they 



568 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

The army suffered very greatly for food during the winter. 
Matters had, indeed, reached such a condition that it was im- 
possible, whether the Confederacy was successful or conquered 
in the spring, to avert the horrors of a famine — such as visited 
the South after the failure of the great struggle. This, as I 
have said so often, was brought about by the gross mismanage- 
ment of the Confederate Commissariat. 

When the campaign in Northern Virginia began in May 
1864, the Commissary-General had only two daj^s' rations for 
General Lee's army in Eichmond. On the 23rd of June, there 
were but thirteen days' rations on hand, and on that day the 
Federal cavalry cut the Danville Railroad, which was not re- 
paired for twenty-three days, and to prevent the troops from 
starving in the meantime. Colonel Northrop was forced to buy 
uncut or unshocked wheat in the field at market rates. General 
Lee repeatedly urged the Goverment to collect thirty days' re- 
serves of provisions at Richmond and Lynchburg, but his advice 

invited to partake. "Well, on Monday night notice was received at regiment 
headquarters to send a detail of men, with an officer, to brigade headquarters 
to receive our quota. [None of the committee have, as yet, made their ap- 
pearance.] They soon retui-ned with two barrels, holding the dinner. The 
contents were soon made visible by knocking in the heads. I will give you a 
list of the contents for the entire regiment, numbering two hundred and sixty 
men and officers : Thirty-two ordinary-size loaves of bread ; two turkeys, one 
of them a very diminutive specimen of that species of fowl, (some swore that 
it was a chicken) ; a quarter of lamb and a horse-bucketfuU of apple butter. 
Well, of course this immense weiglit of provender had to be divided out to 
the various companies. After our company had received its due proportion, 
the whole lot was, by unanimous consent of the company, (numbering thirty 
men,) condensed into six parts, and by a species of lottery, all thirty partici- 
pating, the six "piles " fell to six men; so twenty-four received nothing, and 
six all. I was on picket at the time, but found, upon my return to camp, that 
I was one of the successful six, and got the leg of a turkey and a half-pound 
of mutton, which I soon disposed of, witli some fried bacon, red pepper, salt, 
water, and flour to thicken, making a French dish, which I leave for you to 
name. So ended our New-Year's dinner. No blame is attached to any one. 
The undertaking was too great an one ; so say all the troops." 



WINTER QUARTERS. 569 

was suiFered to pass unheeded, and the army was constantly 
kept in a state of suiFering. On the 5th of December, the 
Commissary-General stated that he had on hand nine days' 
rations for General Lee's army, and at this time General Lee 
informed the Government that his troops were deserting for 
want of food — the rations issued to them being hardly suffi- 
cient to sustain life — and urged prompt action. As might 
have been expected, the Government took no steps to remedy 
the evil, and on the 14th of December, General Lee informed 
the President that his army was without meat. Fortunately 
several vessels loaded with supplies had just arrived at Wilming- 
ton, and provisions were hurried forward to Petersburg and 
Richmond. But for this, the army would have been forced to 
disband or starve. The condition of the Confederacy with re- 
spect to food was thus stated in secret session in the Confederate 
Congress : 

" First, That there was not meat enough in the Southern Con- 
federacy for the armies it had in the field. Second, That there 
was not in Virginia either meat or bread enough for the armies 
within her limits. Third, That the bread supply from other 
places depended absolutely upon the keeping open the railroad 
connections of the South. Fourth, That the meat must be ob- 
tained from abroad through a seaport, and by a different system 
from that which prevailed. Fifth, That the bread could not be 
had by impressment, but must be paid for in market rates. 
Sixth, That the payments must be made in cash, which, so far, 
had not been furnished, and from present indications could not 
be, and, if possible, in a better medium than that at present cir- 
culating. Seventh, That the transportation was not now ade- 
quate, from whatever cause, to meet the necessary demands of 
the service. Eighth, That the supply of fresh meat to General 
Lee's army was precarious, and if the army fell back from Rich- 
72 



570 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

mond and Petersburg, there was every probability that it would 
cease altogether." * 

Still the Government delayed, and spent the winter without 
accomplishing anything, until within a few weeks of the close 
of the war, when an impracticable scheme was adopted to pur- 
chase supplies by paying specie for them. Meanwhile the 
soldiers were starving. 

In this time of suffering and privation it was to be expected 
that the President, as the head of the nation, would give to the 
people an example of self-denial, which might cheer and en- 
courage them in their trials. I regret to say that Mr. Davis 
pursued an opposite course. The following Bill, which was 
gotten through Congress by his friends, is a specimen of his 
conduct : — 

" FOKAGE, FUEL AND LIGHTS FOK THE PRESIDENT. 

" Mr. Sparrow, from the Military Committee, reported the 
following bill, which was considered and passed : 

"A bill to provide for the lighting and warming of the Execu- 
tive mansion, and for the supply of forage and commissary stores 
for the use of the Commander-in-Chief of the army and navy of 
the Confederate States. 

" The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, 
1st, That it shall be the duty of the Quartermaster-General to 
provide fuel and lights necessary for the Executive mansion, and 
forage for six horses for the use Commander-in-Chief of the army 
and navy of the Confederate States. 

" 2. That it shall be the duty of the Commissary-General to 
furnish the Commander-in-Chief of the army and navy of tlie 
Confederate States the same commissary supplies, and upon the 
same terms as are now allowed by law to commissioned officers 
in the field ; and the quantity of commissary su[tplie3 allowed 

* The Lost Cause, pp. 648, G49, G50. 



WINTER QUARTEES. 571 

to be drawn and purchased by the Commander-in-Chief shall be 
double the quantity allowed to a general in the field ; Provided, 
That in case hereafter the. annual salary of said Commander-in- 
Chief shall be paid in par funds, the value of the forage and 
subsistence given him by this act, and which may be furnished 
during the period in which payment of said salary in par funds 
is made, shall be deducted from his salary in the settlement of 
his account." 

This too when the army was starving, and a large part of the 
cavalry in the field had to be disbanded for w\ant of forage. 

In the spring of 1864-65, Confedei'ate Treasury Notes were 
worth less than two cents in the dollar. A loaf of bread was 
worth three dollars in Richmond and Petersburg, and a month's 
pay would scarcely purchase the most trifling article of clothing. 
Yet, Avith its money so greatly depreciated as to be almost 
worthless, the Government was greatly in debt to the army. 
Not a single man had been given his full pay, and thousands 
had not received a cent for two years. It would have been 
some comfort to the men to see the Government meet its obli- 
gations, and a still greater comfort to have been able to send 
the money to those who were starving at home. Yet this was 
denied them. lSh\ Davis and his Aids drew their pay promptly, 
but the men in the trenches were supposed to have no use for 
money. When the reader remembers that General Lee's army 
was the most favored of all the Southern forces, it will not be 
difficult to imagine the condition of the remainder. 

The Conscription had ceased to bring forth men. On 
the 31st of December General Lee declared that it was 
diminishing rather than increasing the strength of his army. 
A pernicious system of details also contributed to bring dov/n 
his force ; and it was a fact which the army did not fail to 
notice that these details were granted to few but the rich or 
influential. Rich men, in some way, managed to escape mili- 



572 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

tary service altogetlier, and men who were unfit for service by 
reason of sickness and disease were hurried off to the army to 
lino-er out a miserable existence. Indeed as early as the fill 
of 1864, the Surgeon-General of the Confederacy declared that 
no man ought to be excused who could serve twenty-four hours 
in the field, and this inhuman idea was carried out. The result 
was that the people set themselves against the Conscription, 
and frequently resisted the enrolling olSicers with arms. 

In view of all this, it was not strange that the troops deserted 
at a frightful rate. Extravagant as the assertion may seem, it 
is nevertheless true that no Government ever did so much as 
the Confederacy to force its army to desert, for no army was 
ever so badly treated, or witli such system. It was with diffi- 
culty that the men could be kept together. Hundreds deserted 
to the enemy, and fully twice as many went home. One of the 
chief causes of the evil was the weakness of the President. He 
steadily opposed the enforcing of the law against deserters, and 
finally it came to be generally understood that no one need fear 
being shot for desertion, as a commutation of the sentence, if 
not a pardon, was sure to be granted by the Executive. 

If the army was to be kept together, it was necessary that 
rigid measures should be enforced. The matter was brought 
before the Government about the last of November by a state- 
ment from General Longstreet, Avho had returned to duty. He 
said, " Over one hundred of General Pickett's men are in the 
guard-house for desertion, and the cause of it may be attributed 
to the numerous reprieves, no one being executed for two 
months," General Lee indorsed on this paper, " Desertion is 
increasing in the army, notwithstanding all my efforts to stop 
it. I think a rigid execution of the law is mercy in the end. 
The great want in our army is fii'm discipline." This paper 
was submitted to the Secretary of War, who referred it to the 
President " for his information." Mr. Davis returned it with 



WINTER QUARTERS. 573 

the following indorsement. "When deserters a^e arrested they 
should be tried, and if the sentences are reviewed and remitted, 
that is not a proper subject for the criticism of a military com- 
mander. Jeff. Davis — November 29, 1864."* 

During the winter the Virginia delegation in Congress, 
headed by ]\Ir. Bocock, the Speaker of the House of Represent- 
atives, waited on the President, and informed him that they 
had no confidence in his Cabinet. Mr. Davis treated the address 
with contempt, and when JMr. Seddon, feeling himself the prin- 
cipal object of this censure, offered his resignation as Secretaiy 
of War, the President endeavored to induce him to retain his 
position, and took occasion to declare that he would in no way 
change either the policy or course of his administration. 

Mr. Davis' besetting sin was his contempt for the wishes of 
the people whose servant he was under the Constitution, but 
whose master he aspired to be, and virtually became. His 
election to the Presidency was a great misfortune to the South, 
for he proved himself incapable of executing the task assigned 
him. The people were slow to believe this, but the truth was 
forced upon them, and when the month of April 1865 opened, 
Mr. Davis was the most unpopular public man in the South. 

The resignation of Mr. Seddon, who was succeeded, too late 
to accomplish anything, by General Breckenridge, was followed 
by that of Colonel Northrop, whose place was given to Colonel 
St. John. 

The Government, at the opening of the year 1864, esti- 
mated that the Conscription would place four hundred thou- 
sand troops in the field. This hope was not realized, and in 
order to supply the deficiency it was proposed to arm the slaves. 
A large number of them were employed in the army as labor- 
ers, engineer troops, and teamsters, and had given great satis- 
faction by their efforts, and it was believed that they could V'-. 

* Diary of a Eebel War Clerk. Vol. II, pp. 343, 344. 



574 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

made to fill up the ranks. They had been found to be good 
soldiers in the Federal army, and it was believed that they 
would accomplish still more in the Confederate army. 

It is my intention to refer to this matter very briefly, and 
only so far as it concerns General Lee. The limits of this work 
forbid a full discussion of it. 

General Lee favored the proposition, and did all in his power 
to induce the Government to adopt it. His views are stated at 
length in the following letter : 

" Headquarters Confederate States Armies, 
February 18, 18G5. 

"Hon. E. Barksdale, Rouse of Representatives, Richmond : 

' ' Sir : 1 have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 
letter of the 12tli instant, with reference to the employment of 
negroes as soldiers. I think the measure not only expedient 
but necessary. The enemy will certainly use them against us 
if he can get possession of them ; and, as his present numerical 
superiority will enable him to penetrate many parts of the 
country, I cannot see the wisdom of the policy of holding them 
to await his arrival, when we may, by timely action and judi- 
cious management, use them to arrest his progress. I do not 
think that our white population can supply the necessities of a 
long war without overtaxing its capacity, and imposing great 
suffering upon our people ; and I believe we should provide re- 
sources for a protracted struggle, — not merely for a battle or 
a campaign. 

" In answer to your second question, I can only say that, in 
in my opinion, the negroes, under proper circumstances, will 
make efficient soldiers. I think we could at least do as well 
with them as the enemy, and he attaches great importance to 
their assistance. Under good officers and good instructions, I 
do not see why they should not become soldiers. They possess 



WINTER QUARTEES. 575 

all the physical qualifications, and their habits of obedience con- 
stitute a good foundation for discipline. They furnish a more 
promising material than many armies of which we read in his- 
tory, which owed their efficiency to discipline alone. I think 
those who are employed should be freed. It Avould be neither 
just nor" wise, in my opinion, to require them to serve as slaves. 
The best course to pursue, it seems to me, would be to call for 
such as are willing to come with the consent of their owners. 
An impressment or draft would not be likely to bring out the 
best class, and the use of coercion would make the measure dis- 
tasteful to them and to their owners. 

" I have no doubt that if Congress would authorize their re- 
ception into service, and empower the President to call upon 
individuals or States for such as they are willing to contribute, 
with the condition of emancipation to all enrolled, a sufficient 
number would be forthcoming to enable us to try the experi- 
ment. If it proved successful, most of the objections to the 
measure would disappear, and if individuals still remained un- 
willing to send their negroes to the army, the force of public 
opinion in the States would soon bring about such legislation 
as would remove all obstacles. I think the matter should be 
left, as far as possible, to the people and to the States, which 
alone can legislate as the necessities of this particular service 
may require. As to the mode of organizing them, it should be 
left as free from restraint as possible. Experience will suggest 
the best course, and it would be Inexpedient to trammel the 
subject with provisions that might, in the end, prevent the 
adoption of reforms suggested by actual trial. 

With great respect, your obedient servant, 

R. E. Lee, General.'^ 

The proposition to arm the slaves Avas made in November 
1864. It was not passed until March 1865, and then the Bill 



576 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

studiously set aside the recommendation of General Lee. The 
reward of freedom was not held out to the slaves. The law 
mei-ely authorized the President to accept such slaves as the 
masters might choose to put into the military service. In short, 
no inducement was to be offered to the negro ; he was to he 
forced to fight for his own captivity. 

The law having passed in this form, it was not reasonable to 
expect to raise black troops. Still the effort was made, and it 
failed. The measure was also passed too late. General Lee 
wanted the negroes in the fall, so that they might be trained to 
their duties during the winter, but Congress trifled away the 
time, and the opportunity for making soldiers of the blacks was 
lost forever. 

Had these troops been raised, it is doubtful whether anything 
could have been accomplished with them. They would have 
been so many more men to feed, and would have increased the 
sufferings of the army. The measure proposed to put two 
hundred thousand black troops in the field, and at that time 
there were not arms enough in the South to enable the returned 
prisoners to go back to duty. It is difficult to understand how 
the negroes would have been armed ; and besides, it was not 
reasonable to suppose that they Avould under any circumstances 
fi2:ht for a slaveholding Government. 

In January, 1865, an effort was made to secure peace. An 
interview was held between President Lincoln, Secretary 
Seward, and others, on the Federal side, and Vice-President 
Stephens, Senator Hunter, and others, on the Confederate 
side, on board of a steamer in Hampton Roads, but nothing 
was accomplished. 

Towards the last of February, General Longstreet was in- 
formed by General Ord of the Federal army, that General 
Grant was willing to meet General Lee for the purpose of set- 
tling the terms of an honorable peace, provided General Lee 



"WINTER QUARTERS. 577 

■»'as au .. ^a to act in the matter. President Davis at once 
.nferred upon General Lee full powers, and the Confederate 
ronimander notified General Grant that he was ready to ope. . 
the negotiation. It proved, however, that General Ord had 
misinformed General Longstreet, having mistaken Genei-al 
Grant's meaning. The following correspondence passed be- 
tween the two commanders : — 

" Headquarters Confederate States Armies, 
March 2, 1SG5. 

" Lieutenant-Genekal U. S. Grant, commanding United States Annies: 

' ' General : Lieutenant-General Longstreet has informed 
me that in a recent conversation between himself and Major- 
General Ord as to the possibility of arriving at a satisfactorv 
adjustment of the present unhappy difficulties, by means of a 
military convention, General Ord stated that if I desired to have 
an interview with you on the subject, you would not decline, 
provided I had authority to act. Sincerely desiring to leave 
nothing untried which may put an end to the calamities of war, 
I propose to meet you at such convenient time and place as you 
may designate, with the hope thai upon an interchange of views 
it may be found practicable to submit the subjects of contro- 
versy between the belligerents to a convention of the kind men- 
tioned. 

" In such event I am authorized to do whatever the result of 
the proposed interview may render necessary or advisable. 
Should you accede to this proposition, I would suggest that, if 
agreeable to you, we meet at the place selected by Generals Ord 
and Longstreet for the interview, at 11 a. m., on Monday 
next. 

Very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 
(Signed) R. E. Lee, General.'^ 

73 



578i LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

" Headquarters Armies United States, 
March i, 1865. 

" General 11. E. Lee, commariding Confederate States Armies : 

' ' General : Your two letters of the 20th instant were 
received yesterday. In regard to any apprehended misunder- 
standing in reference to the exchange of pohtical prisoners, I 
think there need be none. General Ord or General Longstreet 
have probably misunderstood what I said to the former on the 
subject, or I may have failed to make myself understood, pos- 
sibly. A few days before the interview between Generals 
Longstreet and Ord, I had received a dispatch from General 
Hoffman, Commissary-General of prisoners, stating in substance 
that all prisoners of war who were or had been in close confine- 
ment or irons, whether under charges or sentences, had been 
ordered to City Point for exchange. I forwarded the substance 
of that dispatch to Lieutenant-Colonel Mulford, Assistant 
Agent of Exchange, and presumed it probable that he had 
communicated it to Colonel Robert Ould. A day or two after, 
an offender, who was neither a prisoner of war nor a political 
prisoner, was executed, after a fair and impartial trial, and in 
accordance with the laws of war and the usage of civilized 
nations. It was in explanation of this class of cases I told 
General Ord to speak to General Longstreet. 

"Reference to my letter of February 16th will show my 
understanding on the subject of releasmg political or citizen 
prisoners. 

" In regard to meeting you on the 6th instant, I would state 
that I have no authority to accede to your proposition for a 
conference on the subject proposed. Such authority js vested 
in the President of the United States alone. 

" General Ord could only have meant that I would not refuse 
an interview on any subject upon which I have a right to act, 
which, of course, would be such as are purely of a military 



WINTER QUARTERS. 579 

character and on the subject of exchange, which has been en- 
trusted to me. 

I have the honor to be, very respectfully. 

Your obedient servant, 
(Signed) U. S. Grant, Lkutenant-General:' 

This last effort for peace having failed, like the first, there 
was nothing left to the South but to fight the war out to its 
close. 



580 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 



XII. 
THE LAST STRUGGLE. 

February — April, 1865. 



GENERAL LEE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. 

When the New Year dawned, matters in the South were in 
a desperate condition. The people had lost confidence in the 
President, in the Congress, and in everything but the army ; 
the supply of food was almost exhausted ; the array was starv- 
ing, and all classes were reduced to poverty and want ; the 
Federals held possession of the greater portion of the Southern 
territory, and were closing in u})on the principal armies of the 
Confedei'acy. Everywhere ruin threatened the cause. 

The loss of confidence in the Government was natural 
enough. It had done nothing to merit trust, for its course had 
been a series of blunders from its very inauguration, and now, 
when the danger which threatened the country was so great, 
the President and Con2:ress were involved in a diss^raceful 
quarrel, each charging the other with being responsible for the 
state of aiFairs, and neither doing anything to encourage the 
people. 

In this hour of darkness the country turned to General Lee, 
as its last hope. During the entire period between June 1862 



GENERAL LEE COMMANDER-BSr-CHIEF. 581 

and April 1865, he was the only public man whose wisdom was 
believed in throughout the country, and whose integrity was 
never impeached ; and now men came to the conclusion that if 
the cause was not already lost, General Lee was the only per- 
son capable of saving it. For several years there had been a 
growins: desire to see him at the head of all the armies of the 
South, for since the fall of Vicksburg, it had been the chief 
wish of the people to take the control of the armies away from 
the President, in whose military capacity they had no confi- 
dence. Now the demand was made too powerfully to be 
resisted. The Legislature of Virginia passed a resolution de- 
claring that " the appointment of General Robert E. Lee to 
the command of all the armies of the Confederate States would 
promote their efficiency and operate powerfully to reanimate the 
spirits of the armies, as well as of the people of the several 
States, and to inspire increased confidence in the fin-xl success 
of our cause." 

This resolution was communicated to the President, who 
replied : ' ' The opinion expressed by the General Assembly in 
regard to General R. E. Lee, has my full concurrence. Vir- 
ginia cannot have a higher regard for him, or greater confidence 
in his character and ability, than is entertained by me. When 
General Lee took command of the Army of Northern Virginia, 
he was in command of all the armies of the Confederate States 
by my order of assignment. He continued in this general 
command, as well as in the immediate command of the Army 
of Northern Virginia, as long as I would resist his opinion that 
it was necessary for him to be relieved from one of these two 
duties. Ready as he has ever shown himself to be to perform 
any service that I desired him to render to his country, he left 
it to me to choose between his withdrawal from the command 
of the army in the field, and relieving him of the general com- 
mand of all the armies of the Confederate States. It was oaly 



-582 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

when satisfied of this necessity that I came to the conclusion to 
relieve him from the general command, believing that the safety 
of the Capital and the success of our cause depended, in a great 
measure, on then retaining him in the command in the field of 
the Army of Northern Virginia. On several subsequent occa- 
sions, the desire on my part to enlarge the sphere of General 
Lee's usefulness, has led to reujewed considerations of the 
subject, and he has always expressed his inability to assume 
command of other armies than those now confided to him, 
unless relieved of the immediate command in the field of that 
now opposed to General Grant." 

President Davis was right. General Lee had always shunned 
prominence. With a soldier's modesty, he had never sought to 
thrust himself forward, and had been satisfied to do his duty 
in whatever position he was placed by tlie lawful authority of 
the country. Besides this, he was warmly attached to the 
President, and this friendship made him blind to Mr. Davis' 
faults. Mr. Davis was the Constitutional President of the 
Confederacy, and General Lee felt it his duty to sustain him in 
that position, and while his personal friendship prompted him 
to defend the individual, his sense of duty made him quick to 
condemn any attack upon the official. The kindly relations 
existing between them were never disturbed during the war, 
and to the last each possessed the other's perfect confidence. 

The position, however, which General Lee held in the spring 
of 1862, was not what the people now designed for him. Then 
he was acting ' ' under the direction of the President ; " now it 
was proposed to place the office of Commander-in-Chief beyond 
the control of the President. The truth is, the people and 
Congress wished to make General Lee a military dictator, as 
the last hope of saving the cause, and it is not likely, when it 
is remembered how extremely jealous of his power was Mr. 
Davis, that such a step was viewed with any favor by the 



GEXERAL LEE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. 583 

Executive, even though the choice of the nation fell upon one 
so universally beloved as General Lee. It is certain that when 
the Bill creating the office of Commander-in-Chief was put 
upon its final passage in the House of Representatives, in secret 
session, fourteen members, friends of the President, voted 
against it.* However this may be, the Bill was passed, and 
approved by the Executive, and on the 5th day of February 
1865, a general order from the Adjutant-General's Office, 
directed General Lee to enter upon his new duties. 

General Lee had not sought the high rank now bestowed 
upon him, and it came to him so vuimistakably the act of 
the nation, that lie felt he had no right to refuse it. Much 
regret has been expressed that he did not make a greater use 
of the dictatorial power thus confided to him. Whether, in the 
then hopeless condition of affiiirs, he could have done more than 
prolong the Avar, even had he taken the whole power of tlie 
Government into his own hands, as the people and army desired, 
is very doubtful. The cause of the South was doomed already, 
and no human power could have saved it at that late day. 
General Lee's choice was made in view of the obligations rest- 
ing upon him, and with a sincere desire to promote the interests 
of his country. If he erred he but proved himself human, and 
those who regret the decision he made will always respect it, 
and honor the patriotism which induced it. 

* " When the vote came to be taken upon the proposition to put Lee in 
command of all the Confederate armies, Senator Henry of Tennessee, long 
the constant and intelligent friend of President Davis — indeed the leader 
of his party in the Confederate Senate — felt constrained to vote for this im- 
portant change in the Administration of the Southern Confederacy. On the 
occasion of a social visit to the family of the President, he was called to task 
by Mrs. Davis, who bitterly inveighed against the purpose of Congress to 
diminish the power of her husband. She spoke with a spirit so extraordinary, 
that her words were well remembered. 'If I were Mr. Davis,' she said, 'I 
would die or be hung before I would submit to the humiliation.' " — The Lost 
Cause, p. 656. 



584 LIFE OF GENERAIi LEE. 

General Lee entered upon his new command on the 9th of 
February 1865, and issued the following general order to the 
armies of the Confederacy : 

" Headquartebs Confederate Army, 
February 9, 1865. 
'' GENERAL OEDER, 
No. 1. 

"In obedience to General Order No. 3, Adjutant and In- 
spector-General's office, 6th February, 1865, 1 assume command 
of the military forces of the Confederate States. Deeply im- 
pressed with the difficulties and responsibility of the position, 
and humbly invoking the guidance of Almighty God, I rely for 
success upon the courage and fortitude of the army, sustained 
by the patriotism and firmness of the people, confident that their 
united efforts, under the blessing of Heaven, will secure peace 
and independence. 

' ' The Headquarters of the Army, to which all special reports 
and communications will be addressed, will be, for the present, 
with the Army of Northern Virginia. The stated and regular 
returns and reports of each army and department will be for- 
warded, as heretofore, to the office of the Adjutant and In- 
spector-General. 

E. E. Lee, GeneralJ" 

It is my purpose to confine the remaining portion of this na- 
rat^ve exclusively to the campaign conducted by General Lee in 
Virginia, and to pass over the events in the other departments 
now under his command. 



FORT STEADMAN. 58f 



II. 

PORT STEADMAN. 

By the middle of March, General Lee's army numbered 
about thu*ty-thi*ee thousand men. The troops had been half 
starved during the winter, they -were badly clothed, and poorly 
provided against the weather. Yet they were clieerful and wil- 
ling to stand by their commander to the last, and it was a 
common saying with them, that, though their lot was a hard 
one, they could stand it "as long as General Lee." The dis- 
position of the army was as follows : The left wing was north 
and south of the James, and was commanded by General Long- 
street, who had returned to duty during the winter ; the centre 
was at Petersburg, under General Gordon ; and the right ex- 
tended from Petersburg to Hatcher's Run, and was in charge of 
General A. P. Hill. The cavalry, whose horses were scarcely 
fit for service, guarded both flanks. The line thus occupied was 
forty miles in length, and in order to cover it the army was 
posted more like a skirmish line than a line of battle. The 
labor required of the men was incessant. The thirty-three thou- 
sand had to do picket and guard duty, and cover their ground, 
alternating from one duty to another without rest. There were 
no reserves to relieve the worn-out men from these arduous 
labors. The demonstrations of the enemy kept the troops 
shifting about from point to point along the line, adding greatly 
to their fatigue, and when a body of men was moved to re- 
enforce some threatened locality, the position from which It was 
taken was left defenceless. The men knew that there was to 
be no change in this until the campaign began, and then they 
74 



586 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

saw nothing before them but defeat and still more suffering. 
It was a o-reat trial to which their firmness was thus subjected, 
and only their stern patriotism, and their love for General Lee 
kept them true to their duty, for hope had completely departed 
from them. 

General Lee was deeply impressed with the danger which 
threatened the cause of the South, but he was calm and cheer- 
ful, doing what he could to raise the drooping spirits of his 
countrymen. He believed that there was yet a chance for an 
honorable peace, if not for Independence, if the people would 
prove true to themselves and to the cause. 

The situation In which he found himself was critical. Grant 
was before him with a powerful army, and Sheridan had reached 
the White House ready to join the Army of the Potomac with 
his magnificent cavalry. The criminal folly of President Davis 
had opened the way for General Sherman,* who after marching 
from Atlanta to the sea, was moving from Savannah towards 
the James, forcing back the handful of men under the great 
soldier who had been prevented by the personal hostility of Mr. 
Davis from serving his country when It was possible to check 
Sherman. By the 23rd of March, Sherman had reached Golds- 
borough, North Carolina, and had possession, or was within easy 
reach of Lee's most important lines of communication with his 
Southern sources of supply. Goldsborough is only one hun- 
dred and fifty miles from Petersburg, and Sherman was steadily 

* Mr. Davis not only ruined tlie cause in tlie southwest by his interference 
with the army, but also by his incautious declarations. General Grant says : 

" During this time Jefferson Davis made a speech in Macon, Georgia, which 
was reported in the papers of the South, and soon became known to the whole 
country, disclosing the plans of the enemy, thus enabling General Sherman to 
fully meet them. He exhibited the weakness of supposing that an army that 
had been beaten and fearfuUj' decimated in a vain attempt at the defensive 
coxild successfully undertake the offensive against the army that had so often 
defeated it." — General Grant's Report, p. 23. 



FORT STE ADMAN. 587 

advancing. The combined strength of Lee and Johnston waa 
scarcely fifty thousand men, while that of Grant and Sherman 
was near a quarter of a million, and it was evident that without 
some speedy change of position on the part of the Confederates, 
the converging Federal columns would crush them. 

Disagreeable as it was. General Lee now saw that he must 
abandon Kichmond and Petersburg and retire towards the 
mountains. His duty was to defend the cause of the Confed- 
racy to the last, and, desperate as was the task, he resolved to 
perform it faithfully. It has been said that he had made up his 
mind to surrender before he left Petersburg. This is not true. 
He was too thorough a soldier to abandon his colors v;hile a 
hope remained ; too sincere a Christian to butcher his troops for 
the gratification of any feeling of vanity. His intention was to 
present an unbroken front to the enemy to the last moment, and 
for himself he preferred death on the field to a surrender.* 

The plan adopted by General Lee was as follows : to evacu- 
ate the line then held by his army, retreat rapidly towards 
Danville, unite his army with that of General Johnston, and 
occupy a strong position in the interior. He determined upon 
this course early in March, before General Sherman had ad- 
vanced so far into North Carolina, and measures were at once 
set on foot for its execution. General Johnston was instructed 
to retire before Sherman, and manoeuvre his left so as to bring 
it into communication with Lee's right ; ponton-trains were 
collected to enable the army to pass over the streams flowing 
between Petersburg and the new position ; and orders were 
given to collect a large supply of provisions at Amelia Court 
House. 

The shortest route from Petersburg to Amelia Court House 
is by a road known as the Cox road, which runs due west from 
the city, following the general course of the Appomattox River. 

* The Lost Cause, p. 680. 



588 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

It was by this road that General Lee determined to withdravr ; 
but in order to do so it was necessary to compel General Grant 
to make a change in his position. The Federal left, the reader 
will remember, had been extended to Hatcher's Run, very near 
the Boydton plank road, and this situation brought it so near 
the Cox road, that the withdrawal of the Confederates by tlie 
latter road would be a very dangerous operation. This being 
tiie case. General Lee resolved to deal Grant a sudden blow, 
which should make him draw back his left. The most natural 
way of accomplishing this was to attack the Federal right, and 
this General Lee prepared to do. 

The Federal position was very strong, and it was hard to find 
a weak point in it. "A cordon of redoubts of a powerful pro- 
file and armed with the heaviest metal, studded this line. In- 
fantry parapets, amply manned, stretched from work to work. 
Covering the fronts of approach were labyrinthine acres of 
abatis, while all the appliances of ditches, entanglements, and 
clievaux-de-frlse lent their aid to make defence sure and assault 
folly." * It was a bold venture to attack such a line, but the 
necessities of the Southern army required it. 

The point chosen for attack, was Fort Steadman, a strong 
work built on a " considerable salient " of the enemy's line, and 
only about one hundred and fifty yards from the Southern breast- 
works. General Lee's design was to surprise and capture this 
work, gain the high ground in its rear, take the neighboring 
works, and seize the City Point Railroad, the principal line of 
communication of the Federal army. The assault was to be made 
by two divisions of Gordon's corps, and all the rest of the troops 
that could be collected, near twenty thousand in number, were to 
be held In readiness to support the movement. If Grant tried to 
recover his lost ground by an immediate attack, General Lee would 
be ready to meet him ; but if he moved towards City Point to 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 575. 



FORT STEADMAN. 589 

recover his communications, the Southern array was at once to 
abandon Petersburg and retire by the Cox Road. In any event 
General Lee believed that Grant w^ould draw in his left to re- 
enforce his right, which was his weaker wing, and that the Cox 
road would thus be opened. We shall see that this brilliant 
plan was not carried out as General Lee designed. 

The 25th of March was appointed for the attack, and the 
army held in readiness to depart from Petersburg, if the 
movement was successful. 

In the gray light of dawn on the 25th, Gordon's two divisions 
noiselessly emerged from their works, in columns of attack, and 
dashing across the nari'ow space which separated the two armies, 
tore away the abatis, and rushed into Fort Steadman, com- 
pletly surprising the garrison, and carrying the work. In- 
stantly the guns of the captured fort were turned on the adja- 
cent Federal works, and in a short time a brigade of the enerav 
was put to flight, and batteries Nine, Ten, and Eleven, on the 
flanks of Fort Steadman were abandoned by the Federals, and 
occupied by the Confederates. In this brilliant charge, nine 
pieces of artillery, eight mortars, about five hundred prisoners, 
and a brigadier-general were captured. 

It now remained to carry the other works in the neighbor- 
hood, and gain possession of the railroad. Gordon had opened 
the battle bravely, but he was not sustained. The force on his 
right which attacked Fort Haskell made but a feeble demonstra- 
tion, which was quickly repulsed by the enemy. Many of the men 
could not be induced to advance at all, and even Gordon's troops 
became demoralized. No effort was made to advance beyond the 
first line of works to carry the crest in t{ieir rear, (which might 
have been accomplished at first,) but thfe men huddled into the 
breastworks, and would not go beyond. The Federals recov- 
ered from their surprise, and poured a iieavy fire of artillery into 
the works they had lost, at the same time throwing forward a 



590 LITE OF GENERAL LEE. 

strong column of infantry to drive the Confederates from them. 
The Southern line was broken and beaten back, and the enemy 
re-occupied their works. Two thousand Confederates surrend- 
ered on the spot, and a large number were killed and wounded, 
making the Southern loss amount to over three thousand, while 
that of the enemy was in all about twenty-five hundred.* 

General Meade followed up the repulse of the Confederates 
by advancing the 6th corps, which, after a stubborn fight, suc- 
ceeded in capturing the Southern picket line in its front. 

The Confederate plan failed through the misbehavior of the 
troops at a moment when the most brilliant results were within 
the grasp of General Lee. The army suffered a heavy loss, which 
was a great disaster to it at that time, when men were so much 
needed, and General Grant clung with his left to his advanced 
position on Hatcher's Run, still endangering the retreat of the 
Southern army. 

* " Headquaeters Akmy Confederate States, 
March 25, 1865, —11.20 P. M. 

"Hon. J. C. Breckexridge, Secretary of War: 

" At daylight this morning, General Gordon assaulted and carried the en- 
emy's works at Hare's Hill, capturing nine pieces of artillery, eight mortars, 
and between five and six hundred prisoners, amongst them one brigadier-gen- 
eral and a number of officers of lower grade. The lines were swept for a dis- 
tance of four or five hundred yards to the right and left, and two efforts made to 
recover the captured works were handsomely repulsed. But it was found that 
the inclosed works in rear, commanding the enemy's main line, could only be 
taken at a great sacrifice, and our troops were withdrawn to their original po- 
sition. It being impracticable to bring off the captured guns, owing to the na- 
ture of the ground, they were disabled and left. Our loss, as reported, is not 
heavy. Among the wounded, are Brigadier-General Terry, flesh wound, and 
Brigadier-General Phil. Cooke, in the arm. 

"All the troops engaged, including two brigades under Brigadier-General 
Ransom, behaved most handsomely. The conduct of the sharp-shooters of 
Gordon's corps, who led the assault, deserves the highest commendation. This 
afternoon, there was skirmishing on tlie right, between the picket lines, with 
varied success. At dark the enemy held a considerable portion of tlie line 
farthest in advance of our main work. 

(Signed) E. E. Lee." 



GRANT MOVES TO THE LEFT. 591 



III. 

GRANT MOVES TO THE LEFT. 

In the early spring of 1865, General Grant received an im- 
portant addition to his army. Convinced that there was no 
further use for an army in the Valley, he withdrew Sheridan's 
infantry, which he united with his own troops in front of Peters- 
burg. He then instructed General Sheridan to make a raid with 
his cavalry towards Lynchburg, for the purpose of cutting all 
the Confederate communications which were beyond the reach 
of General Sherman. 

Sheridan left Winchester on the 27th of February, taking 
with him his splendid cavalry, ten thousand strong. Early, with 
his miniature army, — twelve hundred men, — made a feeble 
eifort to check the enemy's advance, but Sheridan, baffling an 
effort of the Confederates to burn the bridge over the middle 
fork of the Shenandoah River, crossed the stream on the 1st of 
March, and entered Staunton on the next day. Pushing on he 
encountered Early at Waynesboi'o, scattering his command, 
capturing more than half of it (nine hundred in all>) and forc- 
ing General Early himself to take refuge in the woods. On 
the 3rd, Sheridan reached Charlottesville, where he halted to 
await the arrival of his trains, taking care, in the meantime, to 
destroy such portions of the Virginia Central and Orange and 
Alexandria railroads as were within his reach. 

General Grant's instructions to him, were to occupy Lynch- 
burg, break up the James River Canal and the South Side 
Railroad, and then march rapidly across the State towards 
Danville, and unite his column with the army of General Sher- 



5tr2 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

man. A.s soon as his trains joined him at Charlottesville, Sheri- 
dan proceeded to carry out these instructions; but upon reach- 
ino- the James, between Richmond and Lynchburg, found the 
river too much swollen to be crossed, and 'the bridges all de- 
stroyed. This completely prevented him from reaching Lynch- 
burg, and left him but one of two alternatives, — either to go 
back to the Valley, or attempt to join Grant. With character- 
istic boldness he chose the latter. Moving to the canal, he de- 
stroyed it for several miles in the neighborhood of Columbia, 
and then, pasaing around Richmond, reached the White House 
on the 19th of March, where he was joined by an infiintry force 
which had been sent to him, and furnished with supplies. 
Having rested «nd refitted his command, he left the White 
House on the 24th, marched to the James, crossed that river 
at Jones' Landing, and on the 26th joined General Grant be- 
fore Petersburg. 

Though this expedition had failed to accomplish the original 
designs of General Grant, It resulted In a far better state of af- 
fairs than the Federal Commander had looked for. It placed 
ten thousand cavalry in his hands, and contributed to his final 
success more than any other element in his entire combina- 
tion. 

Apart from this, Geneial Sheridan performed his work of 
destruction very thoroughly. He destroyed almost every lock 
on the canal, and cut the embankment In many important 
places, and the railroads along his route were completely 
ruined. 

The Federal army under General Grant's personal direction, 
now numbered about one hundred and seventy thousand men, 
and General Grant resolved to commence his operations at 
once. His first intention was to defer his advance until Gen- 
eral Sherman crossed the Roanoake River ; but, fearing that 
Sherman's approach would induce General Lee to withdraw 



GRANT MOVES TO THE LEFT. 593 

from Petersburg, he determined to attack at once, and appoint- 
ed the 29th of March for the commencement of his advance. 

His plan was to repeat his movement to his left, but this 
time in a wiser and better manner ; for, instead of endeavor- 
ing, as in former efforts, to turn Lee's right with detached por- 
tions of his army, he determined to throw the greater part of 
his whole force against that flank. His plan was prepared pre- 
vious to the assault on Fort Steadman, and was stated as fol- 
lows, in his instructions to his corps commanders : 

" On the 29th instant, the ai'mies operating against Rich- 
mond will be moved by our left for the double purpose of turn- 
ing the enemy out of his present position around Petersburg, 
and to insure the success of the cavalry under General Sheri- 
dan, which will start at the same time, in its efforts to reach 
and destroy the South Side and Danville railroads. Two corps 
of the Army of the Potomac will be moved at first in two col- 
umns, taking the two roads crossing Hatcher's Run nearest 
where the present line held by us strikes that stream, both 
moving towards Dinvviddie Court House. 

" The cavalry under General Sheridan, joined by the division 
now under General Davies, will move at the same time by the 
Weldon road and the Jerusalem plank road, turning west from 
the latter before crossing the Nottoway, and west with the whole 
column before reaching Stony Creek. General Sheridan will 
then move independently, and under other instructions which 
will be given him. All dismounted cavalry belonging to the 
Army of the Potomac, and the dismounted cavalry from the 
middle military division not required for guarding property 
belonging to their arm of service, will report to Brigadier- 
General Benham, to be added to the defences of City Point. 
Major-General Parke will be left in command of all the army 
left for holding the lines about Petersburg and City Point, sub- 
ject, of course, to orders from the commander of the Army of 
75 



594 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

the Potomac. The 9th army corps will be left intact to hold 
the present line of works so long as the whole line now occupied 
by us is held. If, however, the troops to the left of the 9th 
corps are withdrawn, then the left of the corps may be thrown 
back so as to occupy the position held by the army prior to the 
capture of the Weldon road. All troops to the left of the 9th 
corps will be held in readiness to move at the shortest notice, by 
such route as may be designated when the order is given. 

" General Ord will detach three divisions, two white and 
one colored, or so much of them as he can, and hold his present 
lines, and march for the present left of the Army of the Poto- 
mac. In the absence of further orders, or until further orders 
are given, the white divisions will follow the left column of the 
Army of the Potomac, and the colored division the right col- 
umn. During the movement, Major-General Weitzel will be 
left in command of all the forces remaining behind from the 
Army of the James. 

' ' The movement of troops from the Army of the James 
will commence on the night of the 27th instant. General Ord 
will leave behind the minimum number of cavalry necessary for 
picket duty, in the absence of the main army. A cavalry 
expedition from General Ord's command will also be started 
from Suffolk, to leave there on Saturday, the 1st of April, 
under Colonel Sumner, for the purpose of cutting the railroad 
about Hicksford. This, if accomplished, will have to be a sur- 
prise, and therefore from three to five hundred men will be 
sufficient. They sliould, however, be supported by all the 
infantry that can be spared from Norfolk and Portsmouth, as 
far out as to where the cavalry crosses the Blackwater. The 
crossing should probably be at Union. Should Colonel Sumner 
succeed in reaching the Weldon road, he will be instructed to 
do all the damage possible to the triangle of roads between 
Hicksford, Weldon, and Gaston. The railroad bridge at 



GRANT MOVES TO THE LEFT. 595 

Weldon being fitted up for the passage of carriages, it might 
be practicable to destroy any accumuhxtion of supplies the 
enemy may have collected south of the Koanoke. All the 
troops will move with four days' rations in haversacks, and 
eight days' in wagons. To avoid as much hauling as possible, 
and to give the Army of the James the same number of days' 
supply with the Army of the Potomac, General Ord will direct 
his commissary and quartermaster to have sufficient supplies 
delivered at the terminus of the road to fill up in passing. 
Sixty rounds of ammunition per man will be taken in wagons, 
and as much grain as the transportation on hand will carry, 
after taking the specified amount of other supplies. The 
densely-wooded country in which the army has to operate, 
making the use of much artillery impracticable, the amount 
taken with the army will be reduced to six or eight guns to each 
division, at the option of the army commanders. 

' ' All necessary preparations for carrying these directions into 
operation miiy be commenced at once. The reserves of the 
9th corps should be massed as much as possible. Whilst I 
would not now order an unconditional attack on the enemy's 
line by them, they should be ready, and should make the attack 
if the enemy weakens his line in their front, without waiting for 
orders. In case they carry the line, then the whole of the 9th 
corps could follow up, so as to join or cooperate with the bal- 
ance of the army. To prepare for this, the 9th corps will have 
rations issued to them, same as the balance of the .-Mmy. Gen- 
eral Weitzel will keep vigilant watch upon his front, and if 
found at all practicable to break through at any point, he will 
do so. A success north of the James should be followed up 
with great promptness. An attack will not be feasible unless it 
is found that the enemy has detached largely. In that case it 
may be regarded as evident that the enemy are relying upon 
their local reserves, principally, for the defence of Richmond. 



596 LIFE OP GENERAL LEE. 

Preparations may be made for abandoning all the line north of 
the James, except enclosed works, — only to be abandoned, 
however, after a break is made in the lines of the enemy. 

" By these instructions a large part of the armies operating 
against Richmond is left behind. The enemy, knowing this, 
mar, as an only chance, strip their lines to the merest skeleton, 
in the hope of advantage not being taken of it, whilst they 
hurl everything against the moving column, and return. It 
cannot be impressed too strongly upon commanders of troops 
left in the trenches not to allow this to occur without taking- 
advantage of it. The very fact of the enemy coming out to 
attack, if he does so, might be regarded as almost conclusive 
evidence of such a weakening of his lines. I would have it 
particularly enjoined upon corps commanders that, in case of an 
attack from the enemy, those not attacked are not to wait for 
orders from the commanding officer of the army to which they 
belong, but that they will move promptly, and notify the com- 
mander of their action. I would also enjoin the same action 
on the part of division commanders when other parts of their 
corps are engaged. In like manner, I would urge the impor- 
tance of following up a repulse of the enemy."* 

On the 27th of March, Sheridan's cavalry were moved to the 
left, and on the same day General Ord, who had succeeded 
Butler in the command of the Army of the James, crossed 
from Deep Bottom to the South Side, with three divisions of 
infantry and one of cavalry, and relieved the 2d and 5th corps 
in the trenches on the left of the Federal line, thus enabling 
those troops to take part in the turning movement. The col- 
umn designed for this operation numbered twenty-five thousand 
men, and was to be supported by the remainder of the army. 

That part of the Confederate line — the right — against which 

♦ I have thought it best to state General Grant's plan of operations in full, 
and in his own words. 



GRANT 3IOVES TO THE LEFT. 597 

this effort was directed, extended for several miles beyond Pe- 
tersburg: in a southwesterly direction. Crossing Hatcher's Eun 
at the Boydton plank road, it ran westward for some distance, 
parallel Avith the stream, and along the White Oak road, 
covering the South Side Railroad, which was now the chief 
dependence of the army for food. Four miles west of the right 
of this line was a detached, though important chain of works, 
protecting the Five Forks, the point of intersection of several 
roads with the White Oak road. The importance of this posi- 
tion lay in the fact that it was the key to the wliole country in 
the rear of the Southern line. 

The Federal army began its advance at daylight on the 29th 
of Marcli. Hatcher's Eun was ci'ossed without much opposi- 
tion, being made by the Confederates, and the enemy moved 
northward towards the Confederate line. Owing to the dif- 
ficult character of the country the advance was slow. No 
material resistance was offered tliem until the 5th corps reached 
the vicinity of the Quaker road, when the leading division 
was hotly attacked by a Confederate force, and for a time 
lield in check. The assailants were repulsed, however, and the 
5th corps continued to move on until checked by the works on 
the White Oak road. The 2nd corps, moving on the right of 
the 5th, halted at nightfall in the thick woods near the main 
line of the Confederates. Siieridan, operating still farther to 
the left, succeeded, after a slight encounter, in occupying Din- 
widdie Court House, six miles southwest of the bivouac of the 
2nd and 5th corps, where he went into camp foi* the night. 

General Grant now altered that p;irt of his plan of operations 
which concerned the cavalry, and directed General Sheridan to 
suspend the movement against the South Side Railroad which 
had been ordered for the next morning, and, in place of it, en- 
deavor to gain the Confederate " right rear," while the infantry 
eouoht to carry the intrenched lines opposed to them. 

General Grant had hoped to conceal his movement until hp. 



598 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

was ready to strike the final blow, but he had scarcely begin it 
before it was detected and understood by general Lee. The 
position in which the Confederate commander was placed by the 
manoeuvre of his adversary was desperate, but it did not dis- 
hearten him. The defence of his line of forty miles already 
taxed his army to such an extent that it was with difficulty that 
the position could be covered, and to take troops from any point 
for the reenforcement of another was to expose the point thus 
weakened to almost certain capture. Nevertheless it was the 
only resource left to General Lee, and he resolved to strip his 
lines to the greatest possible extent, mass a strong force on his 
right, and demolish the turning column of the enemy, as he 
had done before with success. General Lougstreet reported the 
enemy in force in his front, and as it might be the design of the 
Federals to attack his left wing also, General Lee deemed it 
most prudent not to weaken General Longstreet, and ordered 
him to watch the enemy closely in his front, and if he had rea- 
son to believe that Grant intended no attack north of the James, 
to march at once to Petersburg with all the troops he could 
spare. To meet the danger which threatened his right, General 
Lee collected from the lines of Petersburg the divisions of 
Pickett, Bushrod Johnson, and a part of Gordon's corps, and 
hurried to the right, to the assistance of the force holding that 
part of the line. This gave him on his right a column of seven- 
teen thousandtoien. He left behind, to guard the nine miles of 
intrenchmentS around Petersburg, about seven thousand men, 
and in order to cover this line these men were posted nearly five 
yards apart. But in spite of this, on the night of tlie 29th, an 
energetic assault of the enemy in front of General Gordon's 
position was repulsed.* 

" Headquarters, March 30, 1865. 
" Genebal J. C. Breckenridge, Secretary of War. 

" General Gordon reports that the enemy, at 11, p. m., j'esterdaj'', advanced 
against a part of his line, defended by Brig.-General Lewis, but was repulsed. 



GRANT MOVES TO THE LEFT. 590 

By the morning; of the 30th only a part of the Confederate 
reenforcements had reached the right wing, but the danger which 
threatened it was temporarily averted by a severe storm which 
set in on the night of the 29th, and continued without abating 
through the 30th, rendering the roads impassable for artillery 
and cavalry. Taking advantage of this delay, General Lee 
hurried his infantry westward, and by the next morning liad his 
forces well in hand. 

On the morning of the 31st the condition of the roads was 
still so unfavorable that General Grant was not willing to com- 
mence operations, and before he could change his intention 
General Lee decided the matter for him. At ten o'clock Lee 
threw forward the force he had collected on his right, and made 
a spirited attack on the 5th Federal corps. The divisions of 
Ayres and Crawford were thrown into confusion and driven 
back, and the Confederates pressed on rapidly. Had the forma- 
tion usually adopted in these turning movements been practised 
by the enemy in this case, success would have crowned General 
Lee's attack; but General Warren, profiting by the experience 
of the past, had disposed his corps in masses en echelon, which 
disjDosition enabled them to meet attack from any direction, and 
promptly reenforce any part of their position.* This skilful 
arrangement now proved the salvation of the 5th corps, for the 
retreating troops rallied upon Griffin's division, posted in a con- 
siderable clearing, which held its ground. The Federal troops 
were re-formed, and the Confederate advance checked. A 
spirited engagement ensued, in which the Southern troops were 
forced back to their line on the "White Oak road. In this 
counter-attack the 2d corps assisted, and two of its divisions 
attempted later in the day to carry the works at the intersection 

The fire of artillery and mortars continued for several hours with (,'onsiderable 
activity. No damage on our lines reported. Iv. E. Lee." 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 589. 



llOO LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

of the Boydton and White Oak roads, but were repulsed with 
considerable loss. 

While this engagement was going on, General Sheridan, 
being anxious to get possession of Five Forks, sent Devin's 
tlivision to seize the position, at the same time moving Crook's 
division to his left to engage the Confederate cavalry which were 
at Chamberlain's Creek, a short distance west of Dinwiddie 
Court House. Devin succeeded in driving off the small South- 
ern force present, and occupied Five Forks. 

By this time General Lee had drawn off his troops from the 
attack upon Warren, and now sent Pickett's and Bushrod 
Johnson's divisions of infantry to drive the Federal cavalry from 
Five Forks. Advancing along the White Oak road, these two 
divisions fell upon the cavalry, and drove them in confusion 
back to Dinwiddie Court House, and following up this success 
by a sharp attack on Sheridan's whole line succeeded in break- 
ing it, and partly isolating his right ; but in executing this 
movement they exposed their flank and rear to that part of 
Sheridan's force at the Court House, and were themselves com- 
pelled to relinquish their advantage, and fall back. Another 
effort was made to carry the Federal line, but was unsuccessful, 
and before it could be renewed, darkness put an end to the fight- 
ing. Night found Sheridan still holding his ground, but so hard 
pressed that, without reenforcements he could not venture upon 
a renewal of the engagement the next day. He at once made 
known his situation to General Grant, who deemed It so peril- 
ous that he stopped the movements of the rest of the army to 
send the 5th corps to Sheridan's assistance. There was no 
necessity for this, however, as General Lee withdrew his force 
after dark, being unwilling to leave the troops in such an expo- 
sed pos-ition during the night. General Sheridan discovered 
this about midnight, and at day break on the 1st of April, ad- 
vanced his whole command towards Five Forks. On the way 



FIVE FORKS AND FETERSBURG. 601 

he was joined by the 5th corps, which had been mcarching all 
nisht to his assistance. 



FIVE FORKS AND PETERSBURG. 

The critical condition in which General Lee found himself 
when Grant advanced against his right, left him no alternative 
but to w^eaken the lines of Petersburg, as I have described. 
He had either to submit to having his communications seized 
and his retreat endangered, if not prevented, or to weaken his 
centre to such an extent as to render it unfit to maintain itself 
against any decided assault of the enemy. He had but one 
thins: in his favor — that General Grant bavins^ concentrated all 
his energies in the attempt against the Southern right would not 
interfere with the centre until the result of the operations in the 
former quarter was seen. The sequel proved the correctness of 
this theory. The corps of Parke, Wright and Ord lay in front 
of this portion of the Southern line, and on the morning of the 
1st, Generals Wright and Ord, having ascertained its weakness, 
urged an assault. General Grant, however, concluded not to 
attempt it, but to continue his movement towards the South 
Side Railroad.* 

The force which General Lee withdrew from Sheridan's front 
at Dinwiddie Court House, fell back to Five Forks. It con- 
sisted of the divisions of Pickett and Bushrod Johnson, and 
constituted the bulk of the army. 

As soon as he found his front clear, Sheridan made his dis- 
positions to advance, and at daybreak moved forward, throwing 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 597. 
76 



602 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

out his cavalry, and admirably masking the movements of his 
infantry with this formidable line. By two o'clock in the after- 
noon of April 1st, he had driven the Confederates into their 
works at Five Forks. Leaving a strong force of cavalry to 
hold the Confederates in front, Sheridan sent a division of 
horse to threaten the Southern right flank, and at the same 
time moved up Warren's 5th corps towards the Southern left, 
where his real attack was to be made. 

Warren began his movement about four o'clock, and, advanc- 
ing through the woods, soon reached the White Oak road, 
when he closed in on the Confederate left flank which was drawn 
back at right angles to the main line, and protected by a strong 
breastwork, about one hundred yards in length, through a 
dense grove of pines. From this point to Hatcher's Kun, the line 
ran northward, and was held by a small picket force, all that 
could be spared to cover it. When Warren appeared, a single 
division was found sufficient to cover the whole of the refused 
line, leaving the rest of the corps free to outflank it to the north. 

As soon as he had brought his troops into position, Warren 
threw forward Ayres' and Griffin's divisions, and captured the 
breastworks on the left, and many prisoners, and Crawford's di- 
vision, swinging around still farther to the left and rear of the 
Southern line, seized the Ford road, the Confederate line of re- 
treat, and moved down upon the doomed intrenchments. At 
the same time Sheridan advanced his cavalry, and quickly closed 
in upon the Confederates. 

The divisions of Pickett and Johnson offered but a feeble re- 
sistance. The flank movement of Warren's corps caused them 
to think they were surrounded from the first, and demoralized 
them so that they made little or no effort to hold their position. 
Over five thousand men threw down their arms and surrendei-ed, 
while the rest fled westward from Five Forks, utterly demoral- 
ized, and hotly pursued by the Federal cavalry until long after 



FIVE FORKS AND PETERSBURG. 603 

nightfall. The losses in killed and wounded were small on loth 
sides, but the Confederates lost six or seven guns, and the right 
wing of the army was torn away from its position, and hurled 
back. 

General Lee had witnessed this disgraceful conduct of his 
troops, and indignant at it, said to those around him that when 
the troops were taken into action again, he would place himself 
at the head of them. Then turning to a general officer present, 
he ordered him sternly and with marked emphasis, to collect 
and put under guard " all the stragglers on the field," indicat- 
ing that he meant his words to apply to many of his officers. 
Such a decided reproof from General Lee, the only instance of 
the kind ou record, could have been drawn out only by some 
great lack of the wonted devotion of the troops. 

As soon as the action at Five Forks ceased, the Federal ar- 
tillery along the entire line in front of Petersburg opened fiercely 
upon the Southern position. General Grant was apprehensive 
that General Lee might suddenly move all his force upon Sher- 
idan, and crush him, and at once sent Miles' division of the 2nd 
corps to his support. As a means of holding the garrison of 
Petersburg in its lines, he ordered the bombardment to be con- 
tinued during the night. At the same time he prepared the 
corps of Parke, Wright, Ord, and Humphreys, to assault the 
Southern Avorks at daylight. All night long the Federal guns 
and mortars threw shot and shell into the Southern intrench- 
ments and the city of Petersburg, preventing the garrison and 
citizens from enjoying the rest which the fatigues and excitement 
of the day demanded. 

The morning of the 2nd of April found General Lee poorly 
prepared to meet the great effijrt which the Federal commander 
was about to make. His right wing had been destroyed and 
rendered worthless, and for the defence of his centre, which was 
now so seriously threatened, he had only the incomplete corps 



604 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

of Gordon and A.' P. Hill. General Longstreet had not yet 
discovered the weakness of the enemy in his front, and no troops 
could be drawn from the north side. Nevertheless, General 
Lee was resolved to make one more effort to save the city. 

Sunday, the 2d of April, dawned bright and clear. With 
the first light of morning the Federal columns of attack ad- 
vanced upon the Southern works, and the engagement quickly 
spread along the whole line from the Appomattox to Hatcher's 
Run. The left of the Southern position rested on the Appomat- 
tox, and was held by General Gordon's corps. This weak force 
was attacked by the 9th Federal corps, under General Parke, 
and after a brief but gallant struggle the Confederates gave way, 
and the enemy carried the outer line. Gordon's troops fell back 
to an inner cordon of works just on thu city limits, Avhere they 
were quickly in line again. The 9th corps, pressing on, at- 
tempted to carry these works also, but was repulsed in ail its 
efforts. 

To the right of Gordon, A. P. Hill's troops were in posi- 
tion, and against this part of tlie Southern line the 6th Federal 
corps was thrown in an impetuous charge. Hill's left was the 
weakest part of the whole position, as the infantry for its 
defence (McGowan's brigade) had been withdrawn on the pre- 
vious day, and the works were held only by the artillerists, 
with a slim picket line in front. The 6th corps drove in the 
pickets, and sweeping forward captured the works, tlie batteries 
and artillerists. 

The movements of the 9th and 6th corps were simultaneous, 
and the success of the latter threatened the Confederate army 
with the most serious disaster. Wright's corps had completely 
broken the left of Hill's line, and threatened to push right through 
to the river, and cut the Southern force in two. The danger was 
increased by the attack of the 2d corps, which, as soon as the 6th 
had carried Hill's works, stormed the redoubts on Hatcher's 



FIVE FORKS AND PETERSBURG. 605 

Run, and drove the small force of Confederates holding them be- 
yond Sutherland's Station on the South Side Railroad. Then 
uniting with the 6th and 24th corps, it completed the Federal line 
which, swinging round, steadily closed in upon Petersburg. 

Fortunately there were just in rear of the redoubts captured 
by the 6th corps, two strong inclosed works, covering the 
ground over which the enemy must advance to reach the river. 
These works were held by only a handful of men. Fort Alex- 
ander was nearer the enemy, and was garrisoned by a less 
devoted force than the other. As soon as the Federals had 
re-formed their line, they made a heavy charge forward, and 
carried the work with a rush, not, however, without a spirited 
struggle on the part of the defenders. 

There remained now only the other work, — Fort Gregg, — 
and this it was necessary to hold to the last extremity, in order 
that General Lee might have time to occupy his new position 
around the city. If the fort fell before that was accomplished, 
the army was lost. The garrison of Fort Gregg consisted of 
the 4th Maryland battery, with two 3-inch rifles and thirty men, 
a body of dismounted artillery drivers — Virginians and Louis- 
ianians — who had been armed with muskets, part of Harris' 
Mississippi brigade, and some North Carolinians — in all two 
hundred and fifty men ; the whole being under the command 
of Captain Chew of the Maryland battery. The critical situa- 
tion of the army was known to this little band of heroes, and 
they silently resolved to purchase the safety of their comrades 
with their lives. 

As soon as Fort Alexander was captured. General Ord 
advanced Gibbon's division to storm and carry Fort Gi-egg, 
and break through to the city. Gibbon's column approached 
in fine order, and by its strength alone, seemed about to envelope 
the work. Moving on rapidly it neared the fort, the Confed- 
erates suffering it to come within less than fifty yards. Then, 



606 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

by a well dii'ected volley, they sent the enemy reeling back 
across the ground they had passed over. The whole aiFair 
could be distmctly seen by both armies, and the repulse of the 
Federals was greeted by loud cheers from the Confederates in 
the inner line. Still no aid could be sent to the brave garrison, 
wliose only hope was to die in the presence of the comrades 
they were trying to save. Both armies ceased firing at other 
points and every eye was fixed on the fight at Fort Gregg. 

Eallying his forces, Gibbon made another desperate attempt 
to carr}^ the fort, but was again repulsed. A thii'd charge met 
with the same fate, and for awhile there sprang up in the hearts 
of the gazers at the city, a wild hope that the fort would be held 
in spite of the heavy odds against it. Vain hope ! At seven 
o'clock the Federals made a last charge, and this time succeeded 
in reaching the ditch. Many clambered to the top of the works, 
but were beaten back by the clubbed muskets of the defenders, 
while the guns were fired rapidly through the embrasures. The 
pressure in front was too strong to be resisted, and the enemy 
swarmed into the work, crushing the garrison by their weight. 
The fort was won, but the heroic defenders had reason to be 
proud of its defence. Out of the two hundred and fifty men 
present when the action began, but thirty survived. There 
were none missing ; the dead and the wounded made up the 
list. They had inflicted a loss of between five and six hundred 
men upon their captors, or two Federals for each one of the 
two hundred and fifty Confederates. 

Nor was the sacrifice in vain. Fort Gregg was taken at a 
little after seven o'clock in the morning, and the two hours 
gained by its defence enabled General Lee to bring up his 
troops and occupy his last line around Petersburg. 

The enemy did not resume their advance immediately, but 
spent the next two hours in occupying the entire country 
towards the Appomattox, throwing their cavalry out on their 
lel't to the South Side Railroad and the river above the city. 



FIVE FORKS AND PETERSBURG. 607 

Towards ten o'clock, General Lee received a small reen- 
forcement. Early on the morning of the 2nd, General Long- 
street had discovered the weakness of the Federals in his front, 
and had marched, promptly with Benning's brigade of Field's 
division, less than three hundred strong. He reached the battle 
field just as the enemy — a few minutes before ten o'clock — 
moved forward again to force an entrance to the city. Long- 
street promptly brought Benning's brigade into action, and by 
his bold and skilful handling of it checked the enemy's advance 
until General Lee could hurry troops to his assistance, when 
the line was occupied and firmly held. 

The Confederates now occupied a short, but very strong line, 
extending immediately around Petersburg with the right flank 
resting on the river above, and the left on the same stream 
below the city. Against this line the enemy now made repeated 
assaults, but they were met and repulsed at every point. Not 
only were the Federals everywhere thrown back in their efforts 
to advance, but Heth's division under the immediate direction 
of General A. P. Hill, was ordered to recover some com- 
manding ground held by the 9th Federal corps on the Southern 
left, near the river. Hill made his attack with great spirit, 
and pressed the 9th corps so hard with his little command, 
that the Federals were forced to bring up the garrison of the 
Avorks at City Point to aid them in maintaining their ground. 
The enemy held their position, and the Southern troops were 
withdrawn. Among the killed was Lieutenant-General A. P. 
Hill. He had passed with high honor through the whole war 
up to this period with but a slight wound, and fell now a victim 
to the chivalrous daring for which he was always distinguished. 

Thus the day closed with the Confederates in possession of 
Petersburg. But it was far from General Lee's intention to 
attempt to hold the city longer. Such a course would involve 
the capture or destruction of his army, and all that remained 



608 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

to him now was to abandon both Richmond and Petersburg, 
and endeavor to join Johnston near Danville. It was no longer 
possible to retreat by the south bank of the Appomattox, for 
all the roads were in possession of the enemy, and now the 
march must be made by the longer route north of the river. 



V. 

THE EVACUATION OF RICHMOND AND PETERSBURG. 

Having decided to abandon the cities he had so long de- 
fended, General Lee at eleven o'clock, on the morning of the 
2nd of April, telegraphed to the Government that it Avas his in- 
tention to retire from Richmond and Petersburg that night at 
eight o'clock, and advised the authorities to have everything in 
readiness to leave the city that night, unless they heard from him 
to the contrary in the meantime. His efforts now were all di- 
rected to the task of holding his line until nightfall, in order 
that he might move off with his army under the cover of dark- 
ness. During the day the tobacco and cotton stored in Peters- 
burg were destroyed, the huge warehouses containing them be- 
ing given to the flames. Everything was gotten in readiness 
for the retreat, and the army only awaited the coming of night 
to begin its last and most memorable march. 

Meanwhile stirring events were transpiring at Richmond. The 
citizens had been kept in utter ignorance by the Government of 
the true state of affairs south of the Appomattox, and were totally 
unprepared for the blow which was now about to fall upon them. 
They were even under the impression that General Lee had 
gained a decided success, which would, if properly followed up, 
result in the ruin of the Federal army. They had been cruelly 



THE EVACUATION OF RICHMOND AND PETERSBURG. 609 

deceived by the authorities, and given no opportunity to prepare 
for the misfortune hanging over them. 

The city was very quiet on Sunday, the 2nd of April. The 
churches were thronged with earnest worshippers, and every 
sight and sound was full of peace. It was hard, to realize that 
only twenty-two miles away, two armies were engaged in the 
most momentous battle of the war, and Plill harder to believe 
that the beautiful city, now so peacefp.l, was in the course of a 
few hours to be the scene of so much desolation and suffering. 
Yet the decree had gone forth. The Confederacy was at an 
end. 

The first warning of the coming danger was ijiven to the 
congregation of St. Paul's Church. A messenger from the War 
Department entered hastily, and approaching the President's 
pew, handed Mr. Davis a small slip of paper. The President 
read it, and it was observed by those near him that his face grew 
ghastly white. Yet, controlling his emotion, he left the church 
in silence. The paper was General Lee's dispatch announcing 
his purpose to evacuate Richmond. The agitation of the Presi- 
dent caused a vague feeling of alarm throughout the congrega- 
tion at St. Paul's, and soon the church was emptied. The an- 
nouncement was ncjade that Richmond was to be given up to tlie 
enemy. At first it was not believed, but before long it was 
found to be too true. 

As soon as General Lee's dispatch was i-eceived, the Govern- 
ment commenced to hurry forward the preparations for its flight. 
Everything of value that could be carried away was boxed up 
and sent to the Danville Depot. Crowds of citizens, and women 
and children hurried to the depot, but were unable to secure 
transportation , and throngs of vehicles went out of the town by 
the roads leading northward. Negroes and low whites collected 
in masses throughout the city, watching for an opportunity to 
plunder. The Departments were in confusion, not an official 
77 



610 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

could be found, and no one knew to whom to apply for advice 
or assistance. In the afternoon, President Davis and his family, 
accompanied by several of his cabinet, left the city on a special 
train.* What could not be carried off was prepared for de- 
struction. An effort was made to employ two regiments of mil- 
itia on duty in the city, in the task of preserving order, but the 
militia would not obey the orders given them, the majority of 
them being residents of the city and men of family, who were 
naturally anxious to look after the safety of their own homes. 

At nightfall a scene of the wildest confusion set in. There 
was a large quantity of liquor in the city, and the Municipal 
Authorities, as a measure of safety, ordered this to be destroyed. 
The heads of the casks were knocked in, and the liquor poured 
into the gutters. The worst classes of the inhabitants, white 
and black, turned out C7i masse, and a rush was made for the 
business quarter in the lower part of the city. The commissary 
stores were appropriated in an amazingly short time — stores 
of considerable value, which had been denied to the hungry 
troops in the field. The shops of the merchants were broken 
open, and entered at pleasure. The contents — jewelry, dry- 
goods, provisions, property of all kinds — were seized and 
carried off by the rioters, the owners making no effort to save 
them, every one being convinced that the city would be sacked 
by the enemy the next day. Hundreds of drunken men and 
boys roamed through the streets, adding to the confusion by 
their cries and yells. To these noises were joined the shrieks 
and screams of terrified women and children. 

While this scene of horror and confusion was going on in the 

* When so much selfishness prevailed in higli places, any exception to such 
a course was doubly striking. General Lee, seeking nothing more for himself 
than was enjoyed by his fellow-citizens, generously refused to remove his fam- 
ily from the city, leaving them there to share the fortunes of the people who 
loved them so well — a people who will never forget this act of quiet heroism. 



THE EVACUATION OF RICHMOND AND PETERSBURG. 611 

city, General Evvell was preparing to withdraw his forces from 
the north side of the James. His command was four thousand 
strong, and' lay in and below the city, before the column of 
General Weitzel who had been left by General Grant to watch 
for an opportunity to take the city. The Federals had remained 
quiet during the day, but at nightfall all of the bands along 
their line commenced to play national airs. Ewell set his bands 
to work at a similar occupation, and this singular " concert" 
was kept up until nearly midnight. Then everything grew 
silent, and, the enemy appearing to have no suspicion of the 
intentions of the Confederates, Ewell commenced to withdraw 
his troops from their lines towards Richmond. The men began 
to pass through the city about two o'clock, and it was near day- 
light when the last soldier was south of the James. 

A new horror was now added to the scene. A large quan- 
tity of tobacco was stored in the great warehouses of the city. 
Sometime previous to the evacuation, the Confederate Congress 
had ordered that if the city had to be given up, the tobacco 
should be burned, in order to prevent its falling into the hands 
of the enemy. Unfortunately this tobacco was stored in local- 
ities where its destruction would be dangerous to tlie city itself. 
Appeals were made to the Government to remove the tobacco 
to a place where the city would not be set on fire by it ; but, as 
a matter of course, these appeals were disregarded. On the 
night of the 2d, General Ewell received orders from tlic Gov- 
ernment to burn the warehouses containing the tobacco. This 
order was obeyed ; the iron-clads in the James River were 
blown up, the few vessels at the wharves destroyed, and soon 
the last of the army was over the river, and the three bridges 
leading to the south shore were given to the flames. Some 
unknown person fired the arsenal, and as the flames reached 
the magazine the structure was blown to pieces, greatly injur- 



(312 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

ing an adjoining building used as an alms-house, and killing 
several of the paupers there.* 

The flames spread from the tobacco warehouses to other parts 
of the city, and many buildings were fired by the mob with the 
hope of being able to plunder them of their contents. 

By morning the city was in a fearful condition. A large 
part of it was in flames, and heavy clouds of smoke were float- 
ino- over it. The wind was blowing directly across the city 
from the river, spreading the flames slowly and steadily. The 
lower streets were filled with a cowardly mob of negroes and 
low whites, shouting and cursing in wild fury. Houses and 
stores were being plundered. The people dwelling in the 
endano-ered quarter were busy moving their furniture into the 
Capitol square, where hundreds of women and children, ren- 
dered homeless by the fire, had sought refuge. The roar of the 
flames and the crash of falling buildings sounded high over 

* Considerable injustice has been done to General Ewell, who has been un- 
fairly held responsible for the burning of the lower part of the city. He was 
compelled to execute the orders given him, and in their execution refused to 
carry out the whole programme of the Government. As a soldier lie was by 
his superiors forced to perform acts which his judgment and kind heart con- 
demned. In a letter written during his imprisonment at Fort "Warren, ha 
says : 

"Eemember how hard I tried to organize a constabulary force in Kich- 
mond. I knew nothing of the firing of the arsenal or cutting of the engine 
hose. These were the work of unauthorized persons or incendiaries. I had 
no force to stop the plundering which was going on all night. I made couriers 
and policemen of my staff, trying to prevent disorder and violence. Several 
fires were kindled before we left, and an attempt to burn Mayo's bridge frus- 
trated by the daring of the engineer officers, who, at great risk, removed 
burning canal boats from under it. What I did was in obedience to positive 
orders that had been given me. Looking, with General Kershaw, towards 
Eiehmond, we saw building after building, at a distance from the river, ignite, 
evidently set on fire. I feel this matter very deeply. I see myself unjustly 
blamed. I did not exceed, but fell short of my instructions. 

Yours affectionately, 

E. S. Ewell." 



THE EVACUATION OF RICHMOND AND PETERSBURG. 613 

everything, and the constant explosions of shells and ammuni- 
tion added not a little to the horror of the scene. 

Towiuxls seven o'clock there was a violent commotion in tlie 
crowd, and the cry of " Yankees ! Yankees ! " ran from mouth 
to mouth, while the rioters rushed towards the upper part of 
the city in the wildest alarm. In a short time a body of forty 
Federal troopers appeared, riding slowly along the street. 
Upon reaching the Capitol square, they dismounted, and took 
possession of the Capitol, from the roof of which their guidons 
were soon flying in the morning breeze, — the first Union flags 
that had waved over the city since April, 1861. 

General Weitzel had been aroused at daybreak by the strange 
sounds in the direction of Richmond, and upon advancing his 
picket line, had found the Confederate works deserted. These 
he immediately occupied, and sending forward a small detach- 
ment of cavalry to reconnoiti'e and ascertain the exact state of 
affairs in the city, followed slowly Avith the remainder of his 
force. This handful of cavalry first occupied Richmond, and, 
a few hours later, Weitzel arrived with his two divisions. An 
eye-witness thus describes his entree : — 

" Stretching from the Exchange Hotel to the slopes of 
Churcli Hill, down the hill, through the Valley, up the ascent 
to the hotel, was the array, with its unbroken line of blue, 
fringed with bright bayonets. Strains of martial music, flushed 
countenances, waving swords, betokened the victorious army. 
As the line turned at the Exchange Hotel into the upper street, 
the movement was the signal for a wild burst of cheers from 
each regiment. Shouts from a few negroes were the only 
responses. Through throngs of sullen spectators ; along the 
line of fire ; in the midst of the hoxTors of a conflagration, 
increased by the explosion of shells left by the retreating army ; 
through curtains of smoke ; through the vast aerial auditorium 
convulsed with the commotion of frightful sounds, moved the 



614 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

garish procession of the grand army, with brave music, and 
bright banners, and wild cheers."* 

General Weitzel's first care after occupying Richmond, was 
to extinguish the flames, but the fire had gained so much force 
that a large part of the city was destroyed before it could be 
subdued. 

Thus fell the Capital of the Confederacy, that for four years 
had withstood all the efibrts of the enemy. It went down in a 
sea of sufferino; and sorrow such as ili^ had never known before. 



VI. 

THE LAST EETREAT. 

Sunday, the 2d of April, wore anxiously away at Peters- 
burg, and when night came the army breathed freer. The sky 
was lit up with the glare of the burning warehouses, and the 
heavy reports of cannon shook the city to its foundations. At 
midnight the army commenced to withdi'aw from the trenches, 
and move rapidly and silently through the streets, towards the 
river. By three o'clock the army was safely on the Chesterfield 
side, and the bridge was fired. Instantly the magazine of Cum- 
min's battery of siege guns exploded with a deafening roar, 
followed in a few moments by the magazine at Fort Clifton, on 
the north side of the river. Then, all along the whole line, 
from Petersburg to Richmond, heavy explosions followed in 
quick succession, shaking the ground as with an earthquake. 
Still the Federal army lay quietly within its own lines, never 
venturing to move forward to ascertain the cause of these sus- 
picious sights and sounds. 

* Letter in the Norfolk Virginian. 



THE LAST RETREAT. 615 

After leaving Petersburg, the army marched north\\arJ to 
Chesterfield Court House, nearly midway between Petersburg 
and Richmond. There it was joined by the division of Gen- 
eral Mahone, and the rest of the troops that had held the Hno 
south of the James, fronting Bermuda Hundreds ; and a litrle 
later Ewell arrived with the troops from the lines of Richmond. 
The army was once more united, but it numbered now less than 
twenty-five thousand men. The march w^as resumed from 
Chesterfield Court House, westward, and by daylight on the 
morning of the 3d of April, the city of Petersburg was sixteen 
miles behind. 

Meanwhile General Grant had not been idle. Encouraged 
by his successes, he had displayed a vigor and skill superior to 
any of his past performances, aud was now ready to follow up 
his triumph. Feeling sure that Lee would retreat at the earli- 
est moment, Grant, on the night of the 2d, made his arrange- 
ments to pursue as soon as the withdrawal of the Confederates 
should be made known to him. There was but one route open 
to General Lee, — namely, the north shore of the Appomattox, 
and then by the south side of the same river, through Amelia 
Court House and Burkesville towards Danville. The 5th Fed- 
eral corps was already at Sutherland's station, on the South 
Side Railroad, ten miles west of Petersburg, while Sheridan, 
with the cavalry, was at Ford's depot ten miles farther west. 
The position of these forces gave Grant the interior line to the 
points for which Lee was aiming, and rendered it not improb- 
able from the outset, that by a judicious use of them the Fed- 
eral commander would be able to intercept his antagonist. On 
the night of the 2d, the 2d Fedea-al corps, General Humphreys, 
and a ponton-train were added to the force west of Petersburg, 
and the 6th and 9th corps, and Ord's command were held in 
readiness to renew the attack at diwn. 

At daylight on the morning of the 3rd, the Federal skirmish- 



G16 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

ers weve thrown forward. Meeting with no opposition tliey 
rushed into the works and found them deserted. General 
Grant, leaving a garrison in the city, at once began his pursuit 
of Lee. The Army of the James, under General Ord, was 
directed to march, by the line of the South Side Railroad, upon 
Burkesville, while Sheridan, with the cavalry and 5th corps, 
followed by the 2d and 6th corps, was ordered to gain the Dan- 
ville Kailroad north of Burkesville.* If these columns could 
reach their destinations before the arrival of Lee, the Confed- 
erates would be cut off from the direct route to Danville, and 
forced to resort to a long and circuitous march to regain it, or 
to retreat to the mountains. 

The retreat of the Confederate army was continued steadily 
during the 3rd of April, but the march was greatly impeded by 
the train of wagons and artillery, many of the former being 
loaded with the worthless property of the Government, to save 
which, the officials, who had taken good care for their own se- 
curity, were willing to risk the safety of the army. The train 
was thirty miles in length, and delayed the movement greatly. 

General Lee was calm and cheerful. To those around him 
he said. " I have got my army safe out of its breastworks, and, 
in order to follow me, my enemy must abandon his lines, and 
can derive no further benefit from his railroads or the James 
River." Indeed, at this time the Confederate commander had 
no doubt of his ability to effect a junction with General John- 
ston He knew that General Grant would be forced to divide * 
his army in the pursuit, and he hoped to be able to take advan- 
tage- of this division and defeat the pursuing columns in detail. 
But, in forming this plan of operations, he had not expected to 
be burdened in his movements by the Government rubbish, and 
had based his calculations upon the fact that he expected to find 
at Amelia Court House, the supplies which he had ordered to 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. G05. 



THE LAST RETREAT. 617 

be collected there for his army. It is hardly probable that 
General Lee hoped to save the Confederacy at this late day, 
but he may have expected, and with good reason, after uniting 
with Johnston, to be able to gain favorable terms for the South. 
Upon this point General Lee has as yet been silent, and we can 
only conjecture what were his hopes. It is certain, however, 
that he did expect to effect his retreat in safety, which he would 
have done, had his orders been carried out with regard to his 
supplies. 

The Appomattox was crossed again at Goode's bridge, and 
on the 4th the army reached Amelia Court House, tliirty-eight 
miles west of the points from which it had started. Here Gen- 
eral Lee expected to find a large quantity of quartermaster and 
commissary stores for his troops, who had eaten nothing since 
the retreat began. To his astonishment and indignation, he 
learned that the trains which had been sent from Danville to 
him had been ordered to Richmond to help to carry off the Gov- 
ernment pi'operty, and that, through the inexcusable blunder- 
inir of the Richmond Authorities, the cars had been sent on to 
the Capital without unloading the stores at Amelia Court House. 
It was too late now to remedy the blunder. The troops had 
been Avithout food for nearly two days, and there was not a 
single ration to be had. It was a terrible blow, and it com- 
pletely destroyed the hopes with which General Lee began the 
retreat. 

The first thing to be done now was to find food for the men, 
and to accomplish this, parties were sent out into the sur- 
rounding country to procure supplies. This consumed the whole 
of the 4th and 5th — time which the Confederate commander 
had expected to use in getting beyond his pursuers. But for 
the fotal blunder of tlie Government, he would have preserved 
his army intact, and have passed beyond Burkesville In safety 
before the enemy could have reached it. The forced delay at 
78 



618 LIFE OF GENEKAL LEE. 

Amelia Court House, however, enabled Sheridan, who was 
pressing on with the cavalry, far in advance of the rest of the 
Federal army, to reach the Confederate line of retreat, and on 
the afternoon of the 4th he arrived at Jetersville on the Danville 
Railroad, seven miles southwest of Amelia Court House. 

It was now impossible for the Confederates to reach Burkes- 
ville, for Sheridan, with eighteen thousand cavalry, held the 
railroad between the Court House and the Junction, and thus 
headed them off. This fact and the condition of his army made 
a battle to be no longer thought of by General Lee. His only 
alternative now, was to try to escape, and but one route was 
open to him, to continue his march due west, and endeavor to 
reach the hilly region around Farmville, where the natural 
strength of the country would aid him in securing his retreat 
to the mountains. Farmville was thirty-five miles distant, and 
his army had been reduced to about twenty thousand men. 
Nearly half of these had been sent out to procure food, and the 
whole force had lost its compactness and solidity. 

On the night of the 5th, the army left Amelia Court House 
and marched westward. " The country through which it was 
moving was a tract of straggling woods and pine barrens, with 
occasionally little patches of clearings. The foraging parties 
had to go so far a-field in quest of food, that they were taken 
prisoners by wholesale. In the fact of such sufferings as they 
left behind, it cannot be wondered at if some of the poor fellows 
courted capture. Those foragers who retui^ned to Lee brought 
little or nothing with them. The sufferings of the men from 
the pangs of hunger have not been approached in the military 
annals of the last fifty yeai's. But the sufferings of the mules 
and horses must have been even keener ; for the men assuaged 
their craving by plucking the buds and twigs of trees just 
shooting in the early spring, whereas the grass had not yet 
started from its winter sleep, and food for the unhappy quadru- 



THE LAST RETREAT. 619 

peds there was none. As early as the morning as the 4th, Lee 
sent off half his artillery towards the railroad to relieve the 
famished horses. This artillery making slow progress, thanks 
to the exhaustion of the horses, was captured by the Federals 
on the 8th, but not until General Lindsay Walker had buried 
many of his guns, which were, of course, subsequently exhumed 
(seventy of them at one haul) by their captors. 

*' It is easy to see that the locomotion of an army in such a 
plight must have been slow, and slower. The retreat was con- 
ducted in the following fashion : About midnight the Confed- 
erates slipped out of their hasty works, which they had thrown 
up and held during the previous day, and fell back until ten or 
eleven o'clock the next morning. Then they halted, and imme- 
diately threw^ up earthworks for their protection during the day. 
It was not long before the wolves were again on their heels, and 
from their earthworks the Confederates exchanged a heavy fire 
with their pursuers throughout the day. Delayed by tlie neces- 
sity of guarding a train from thirty-five to forty miles in length, 
enfeebled by hunger and sleeplessness, the retreating army was 
able to make only ten miles each night. This delay enabled the 
active Sheridan to get ahead with his cavalry, and to destroy the 
depots of provisions along the railroad between Burkesville and 
Danville. Upon the 5th, many of the mules and horses ceased 
to struggle. It became necessary to burn hundreds of wagons. 
At intervals the enemy's cavalry dashed in and struck the in- 
terminable train here or there, capturing and burning dozens 
upon dozens of wagons. Towards evening of the 5th, and all 
day long upon the 6th, hundreds of men dropped from exhaus- 
tion, and thousands let fall their muskets from inability to carry 
them any farther. The scenes of the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th 
were of a nature which can be apprehended in its vivid reality 
only by men who are thoroughly familiar with the harrowing 
details of war. Behind, and on either flank, an ubiquitous and 



620 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

increasino-ly adventurous enemy — every mud-hole and every 
rise in the road choked with blazing wagons — the air iilled with 
the deafening reports of ammunition exploding, and shells 
bursting when touched by the flames — dense columns of smoke 
ascending to heaven from the burning and exploding vehicles — 
exhausted men, worn-out mules and horses, lying down side by 
side — gaunt famine glaring hopelessly from sunken lack-lustre 
eyes — dead mules, dead horses, dead men, everywhere — 
death, many times welcomed as God's blessing in disguise — 
who can wonder if many hearts, tried in the fiery furnace of 
four years' unparalleled suffering and never hitherto found want- 
ing, should have quailed in presence of starvation, fatigue, 
sleeplessness, misery — unintermitted for five or six days, and 
culminating in hopelessness." * 

In the meantime, General Meade, late in the afternoon of the 
5th, joined Sheridan at Jetersville, with the 2d and 6th corps, and, 
as it was expected that Lee would attack this force, in order to 
recover his line of retreat to Danville, General Meade at once in- 
trenched his position, and awaited the arrival of the Confedei'ates. 
The reader has seen that it Avas impossible for General Lee to 
pursue such a course. On the night of the 5th the whole of the 
Army of the Potomac was concentrated at Jetersville, and on 
the morning of the 6th General Meade moved towards Amelia 
Court House to attack General Lee. As he began his march, 
Meade found that General Lee had given him the slip, and was 
marching towards Farmville by way of Deatonsville. He at once 
set out in pursuit, sending the 2d corps direct to Deatonsville, 
and moving the 5th and 6th corps by parallel routes to the north 
and south. The Army of the James, under General Ord, had 
reached Burkesville, and General Grant now directed Ord to 
march at once upon Farmville. 

The Confederates retreated rapidly from Amelia Court House. 

♦Francis Lawley's Narative. 




(O'^l) 



<522 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Sheridan, with the Federal cavalry, hung closely upon their 
route. On the 6th he struck the Confederate wagon-train near 
Deatonsville. The train was escorted by a strong body of in- 
fantry and cavalry, and to secure the prize thus brought before 
him Sheridan adopted an admirable plan. He attacked it at 
once with a single division, and when repulsed in this attempt 
renewed the attack farther on with a fresh division, continuing 
to strike thus all along the line, thinking that by this method he 
would be sure to find a vulnerable point. 

The result proved the correctness of his supposition. When 
Sailor's Creek, a small tributary of the Appomattox, was reached, 
Sheridan struck the train with three of his divisions, capturing 
sixteen pieces of artillery, and a number of prisoners, and de- 
stroying four hundred wagons. At the same time Pickett's 
division, now reduced to eight hundred men, which was guard- 
ing the train, was so hard pressed by the cavalry, that General 
Pickett sent to General Ewell for reenforcements to enable him 
to hold his ground until the remainder of the wagons could get 
off in safety. Ewell promptly brought up his corps, — four 
thousand two hundred strong, — and prepared to hold Sheridan 
back, but while forming his line of battle, General Ewell dis- 
covered that Gordon's corps, which constituted the rear-guard 
of the army, had taken another road, following the wagon-train, 
and that the enemy had already occupied the high ground in his 
rear, cutting him off from the rest of Lee's forces. The situation 
was desperate, but Ewell resolved to sell his command dearly. 

Sheridan threw forward his cavalry and engaged the Confed- 
erates in a hot skirmish until the 6th corps came up. The Fed- 
eral infantry at once attacked, and Ewell fell back slowly, 
skirmishing so hotly that the advanced division (Seymour's) of 
the 6th corps was forced to halt until it could be reenforced by 
a fresh division (Wheaton's).* The men could now see the 

* Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac, p. 612. 



THE LAST RETREAT. 623 

enemy on all sides of them, and they were so much exhausted 
by fatigue and hunger, as to be scarcely able to stand up in the 
ranks. Many of them were so worn out that they would drop 
the guns which they had just loaded or discharged, and, regard- 
less of the firing, sink down upon the ground and fall asleep.* 

Ewell formed his line rapidly, and as he did so the 6th corps 
made a sharp attack upon him. He had been separated from 
Pickett's division, which was broken and put to flight by the 
lieavy column of the enemy thrown against it, and had been 
unable to render Pickett any assistance. Yet in this desperate 
strait, Swell's veterans proved themselves worthy of their old 
renown. The advance of the 6th corps was met with a heavy 
fire which broke the Federal line, and caused it to fall back. 
The success was only temporary, however, for the enemy soon 
rallied and renewed their assault, while the cavalry closed in 
upon the flank and rear of the Confederates. Thus hemmed in 
on all sides by more than five times their number, Ewell's men 
threw down their arms and surrendered. All that was left of 
tiie corps, together with General Ewell himself, Genei'al Custis 
Lee, and three other general officers, fell into the hands of the 
enemy. 

While this fight was going on, the 2d Federal corps suc- 
ceeded in capturing a number of prisoners and wagons, together 
with several pieces of artillery, near the mouth of Sailor's 
Creek. The effort of the enemy to press on, however, was 
checked by the Confederate rear-guard. 

General Ord, in starting out for Farmville, sent a force of 
cavalry and ai'tillery to destroy the bridges near that place, in 
order to prevent Lee from reaching it. This force encountered 
the head of the Confederate column, and was driven off*. The 
wreck of the Confederate army continued its retreat, and on the 
night of the 6th crossed the Appomattox at the High Bridge, 

• This statement is derived from eye witnesses. 



624 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

three miles from Farmville, and bivouacked on the opposite 
side of the river, — Gordon's corps at the High Bridge (the 
crossino- of the South Side Eaih-oad), and Longstreet's corps 
on the heights around Farmville. 

"When the river was crossed, the general officers of the army 
collected around a camp fire to consider their situation, and to 
take counsel together as to the best line of policy to be pursued. 
General Lee was not of the number. All present agreed that 
but three lines of conduct yet remained open to them ; either to 
disband and allow the troops to make their way as best they 
could to some specified rallying point, to abandon the trains, 
and with the infantry cut their way through the Federal lines, 
or to surrender. The first course was equivalent to a desertion 
of the cause, for it was certain that the army, once disbanded, 
would not reassemble, and to turn such a throng of starving 
men upon the country would be to bring still greater misery 
upon the inhabitants. The second course was doubtful, for it 
was hardly possible to cut through such an army as that of 
General Grant, with the little band of Confederates, and if it 
could be done, starvation was sure to follow. Nothing re- 
mained, in the opinion of the council, but to surrender. The 
army had done all in its power to uphold its cause. This 
decision was made reluctantly, and General Pendleton, the 
Chief of Artillery, was appointed to communicate it to General 
Lee. 

The Confederate commander was not yet ready to surrender. 
While feeling keenly the grave responsibilities of his position, 
and sympathizing deeply with the sufferings of his troops, he 
did not believe that he could yet surrender his army with honor. 
There was still a chance for escape, and it was his duty to 
endeavor to avail himself of it. 



THE SURRENDER. G25 



VII. 

THE SURRENDER. 

Having decided that the moment for the surrender of his 
army had not yet arrived, General Lee prepared to continue his 
retreat. 

As soon as the Confederates had crossed the Appomattox, the 
railroad and stage road bridges were fired. Gordon, on the 
morning of the 7th, left one brigade to guard the crossing until 
the bridges were destroyed, and moved towards Farm^ille with 
the rest of his command. At the same time the 2d Federal 
corps arrived, and making a sharp attack drove off the brigade 
left by Gordon, and saved the stage road bridge entire, and 
also the High Bridge, with the exception of two spans which 
were burned. The enemy then dashed forward towards the 
Confederate wagon train, drove off the guard and captured a 
number of the wagons. Gordon at once moved back a part of 
his force, compelled the enemy to withdraw, and captured two 
hundred prisoners. 

The Confederates continued their retreat during the 7th with 
but little molestation, except the frequent dashes of the enemy's 
cavalry upon the w^agon train. The enemy followed closely, 
and early in the morning occupied Farmville. The 2d Federal 
corps was pushed forward, and about noon General Humphreys 
found his advance checked by the main body of Lee's army, which 
was strongly intrenched in a commanding position four or five 
miles north of Farmville, covering the stage and plank roads to 
Lynchburg. Lee had halted here to rest his army, and hold 
his pursuers in check until niglitfall. Humphreys found the 
works too strong to be attacked in front, and made an at- 
79 



626 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

tempt to take them in flank ; but, upon finding he was con- 
frontino- Lee's whole army, he sent for reenforcements. While 
awaiting their arrival, he attacked the Southern left, and was 
repulsed with a loss of over six hundred in killed and wounded. 
When the Federal reenforcements came up, night had fallen, 
and the enemy decided to suspend the attack until morning. 

Upon occupying Farraville, General Grant dispatched a 
messenger to General Lee with the following communication : 

" April 7, 1865. 
" General : 

" The result of the last week must convince you of the hope- 
lessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of North- 
ern Virginia in this struggle. I feel that it is so, and regard it 
as my duty to shift from myself the responsibility of any further 
effusion of blood by asking of you the surrender of that portion 
of the Confederate States army known as the Army of North- 
ern Virginia. 

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant- General. 

General R. E. Lee." 

This document was handed to General Lee that night. He 
at once sent the following reply : 

" April 7, 1865. 
" General : 

" I have received your note of this date. Though not enter- 
taining the opinion you express on the hopelessness of further 
resistance on the part of the Array of Northern Virginia, I re- 
ciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and 
therefore, before considering your proposition, ask the terms 
y^u will offer on condition of its surrender. 

R. E. Lee, General, 

" Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant." 



THE SURRENDER. 627 

During the night the Confederates resumed their retreat 
towards Lynchburg, and the movement had been in progress 
for some hours when General Grant received General Lee's 
letter. He immediately replied : 

"April 8, 1865. 
♦' Genekal : 

" Your note of last evening, in reply to mine of same date, 
asking the condition on which I will accept the surrender of the 
army of Northern Virginia, is just received. In reply, I would 
say that 'peace being my great desire, there is but one condition 
I would insist upon, namely : that the men and officers surren- 
dered shall be disqualified for taking up arms again against the 
Government of the United States until properly exchanged. I 
will meet you, or will designate officers to meet any officers you 
may name for the same purpose, at any point agreeable to you, 
for the purpose of arranging definitely the terms upon which 
the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia will be re- 
ceived. 

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant- General. 

General E. E. Lee." 

To this General Lee responded as follows : 

" April 8, 1865. 
•' General : 

" I received, at a late hour, your note of to-day. In mine 
of yesterday, I did not intend to propose the surrender of the 
Army of Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of your prop- 
osition. To be frank, I do not think the emergency has arisen 
to call for the surrender of this army ; but, as the restoration 
of peace should be the sole object of all, I desired to know 
whether your proposals would lead to that end. I cannot, 
therefore, meet you with a view to surrender the Army of 



628 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Northern Virginia : but, as far as your proposal may affect the 

Confederate States' forces under my command, and tend to the 

restoration of peace, I sliould be pleased to meet you at 10 A. 

M. to-morrow, on the old stage road to Richmond, between the 

picket lines of the two armies. 

R. E. Lee, General. 

LiEUTEN ant-General U. S. Grant." 

On the 9th General Grant wrote : 

" April 9, 1865. 
" General : 

" Your note of yesterday Is received. I have no authority to 

treat on the subject of peace ; the meeting proposed for 10 a. 

M. to-day could lead to no good. I will state, however, 

General, that I am equally anxious for peace with yourself, and 

the whole North entertains the same feeling. The terms upon 

which peace can be had are well understood. By the South 

laying down their arms they will hasten that most desirable 

event, save thousands of human lives, and hundreds of millions 

of property not yet destroyed. Seriously hoping that all our 

difficulties may be settled without the loss of another life, I 

subscribe myself, &c., 

U. S. Grant, Lieutenarit- General. 

General R. E. Lee." 

On the night of the 7th the Confederate army fell back from 
its intrenched line, and marched rapidly towards Lynchburg. 
At dark on the 8th the head of the column i-eached Appomattox 
Court House. The army was now moving on a narrow neck 
of land between the Appomattox and the James rivers. 
Lynchburg was only twenty-four miles distant, but there was 
danger that the enemy might throw their cavalry in advance of 



THE SURRENDER. G29 

the Confederates, and thus close up the outlet. The march had 
been conducted during the 8th with singular freedom from fight- 
ing. Scarcely a gun had been fired the whole day, and the 
men began to think they might reach Lynchburg after all. 

Suddenly, however, heavy firing was heard in front. Then 
an order was received from General Lee to cut down all the 
extra artillery and disband the commands. The dream of 
security in which the army had for a moment indulged was 
abandoned, and the men awoke to the knowledge that their 
retreat was cut off. 

It was indeed the case. Sheridan had marched hard durmg 
the 7th and 8th, and towards dark on the 8th had reached Ap- 
pomattox Station, on the South Side Railroad, five miles south 
of Appomattox Court House, and had captured four trains of 
cars, loaded with supplies, en route from Lynchburg to Lee's 
army. Then planting his command across the Confederate line 
of retreat he prepared to hold his position, knowing that the 
Army of the James would join him in the morning, while the 
Army of the Potomac would push forward in the rear of the 
Southern forces. 

All that now remained to General Lee was to cut his way 
through Sheridan's lines, and he ordered General Gordon to do 
so at all hazards at sunrise. 

The Army of Northern Virginia had now been reduced to 
eisfht thousand men with muskets in their hands. Gordon's 
corps, about two thousand strong, was thrown out in front, while 
LonjTstreet's shattered command held the rear. Between the^e 
two weak lines was the remnant of the wagon-train, and hud- 
dled around the vehicles were several thousand unarmed strag- 
glers, who had been rendered too weak, by hunger and fatigue, 
to carry their muskets. The cavalry, about three thousand 
strong, were almost unfit for service by reason of the sufferings 
of both men and horses. Yet this little skeleton army was 



G30 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

about to attempt to cut its way through the powerful lines of 
General Sheridan. 

At sunrise on the 9th, Gordon moved forward to attack the 
enemy, and upon reconnoitering the Federal position, discovered 
that it was held by dismounted cavalry. Making a sharp attack 
he drove Sheridan's troopers back upon Ord's infantry which 
])iid now come up, and this force being brought forward, Gordon 
was himself forced back. Finding that he could not hold his 
ground, Gordon sent word to General Lee that the enemy were 
driving him back. 

^\'hen the message reached the Confederate Commander, that 
officer found that he could no longer hope to reach Lynchburg. 
His last resource had been taken from him and further resistance 
v/ould merely sacrifice the army. The time had come to sur- 
render. General Lee at once sent a flag of truce to General 
Siieridan asking for a suspension of hostilities, with a view to a 
surrender. At the same time he dispatched the following note 
to General Grant : 

April 9, 1865. 
" General : 

"I received your note this morning on the piclcet line, 
vvliither I had come to meet you and ascertain definitely what 
terms were embraced in your proposition of yesterday with ref- 
erence to the surrender of this army. 

"" I now request an interview in accordance with the oflTer 
contained in your letter of yesterday for that purpose. 
Very respectfully. 

Your obedient servant, 

R. E. Lee, General" 
" To Lieut. -General Grant, 

'• CommandiJig jinnies of the United States." 

The desired interview was granted by General Grant, who 
replied : 



THE SURRENDER. 631 

April 9, 1865. 
" Genjbbal R. E. Lee, commanding Confederate States Armies : 

" Your note of this date Is but this moment, 11.59 a. m. 
received. 

"In consequence of my having passed from the Richmond 
and Lynchburg road to the FarmvIUe and Lynchburg road, I 
am at this writing, about four miles west of Waher's Church, 
and will push forward to the front for the purpose of meeting 
you. 

" Notice sent to me on this road where you wish the interview 
to take place, will meet me : 

Very respectfully your obedient servant, 

U. S. Grant, Lieu/enant-General " 

The meeting of the two commanders was held at the house of 
Mr. Wilnier McLean, in the village of Appomattox Court 
House. There, sitting at a deal table, they drew up their fa- 
mous agreement, the one proposing, and the other accepting 
the conditions upon which the Army of Nortliern Virginia 
passed into the domain of history, General Lee was calm and 
dignified. " His demeanor," says a Federal officer, who wit- 
nessed the scene, " was that of a thoroughly possessed gentle- 
man, who had a very disagreeable duty to perform, but was de- 
termined to get through it as well and as soon as possible." 

The agreement was embodied in the two following papers : 

Appomattox Court House, Va., 
April 9, 18G5. 
" General : 

" In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 
8th instant, I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of 
Northern Virginia on the following terms, to wit: lioils of all 
the officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to be 
given to an officer to be designated by me, and the other to be 



632 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

retained by such officer or officers as you may designate. The 
officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms 
against the United States until properly exchanged ; and each 
company or regimental commander to sign a like parole for the 
men of their commands. The arms, artillery, and public prop- 
erty, to be parked and stacked, and turned over by the officers 
appointed by me to receive them. This will not embrace the side 
arms of the officers, nor their private horses or baggage. This 
done, each officer and man will be allowed to return to his home, 
not to be disturbed by United States authority so long as they 
observe their paroles and the laws in force where they may 

reside. 

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General." 

" General R. E. Lee. 

Hbadquabtebs Army of Nokthern Virginia, 
April 9, 1865. 
" General : 

"I have received your letter of this date containing the 
terms of the surrender of the Array of Northern Virginia, as 
proposed by you. As they are substantially the same as those 
expressed in your letter of the 8th instant, they are accepted. I 
will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the stipu- 
lations into effisct. 

E. E. Lee, General." 

'* Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant. 

For the adjustment of the details of the surrender, General 
Lee appointed as commissioners, Lieutenant-General Long- 
street, Major-General Gordon, and Brigadier-General Pendle- 
ton, while General Grant designated for the same purpose, 
Major-Generals Gibbon, Griffin, and Merritt. These Commis- 
sioners met the next day, and drew up the following agree- 
ment : 



THE SURRENDER. 633 

Appomattox Court House, April 10, 1865. 

Agreement entered into this day in regard to the surrender of the 
Army of Northern Virginia to the United States authorities. 

" 1st. The troops shall march by brigades and detachments 
to the designated point, stack their arms, deposit their flags, sa- 
bres, pistols, &c., and thence march to their homes under 
charge of their officers, superintended by their respective divi- 
sions and corps commanders, officers retaining their side arras 
and the authorized number of private horses. 

" 2nd. All public horses and public property of all kinds to 
be turned over to staff officers, to be designated by the United 
States authorities. 

" 3rd. Such transportation as may be agreed upon as neces- 
sary for the transportation of the private baggage of officers will 
be allowed to accompany the officers, to be turned over at the 
end of the trip to the nearest United States Quartermaster, re- 
ceipts being taken for the same. 

" 4th. Couriers and mounted men of the artillery and cav- 
alry, whose horses are their own private property, will be 
allowed to retain them. 

" 5th. The surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia 
shall be construed to include all the forces operating with that 
army on the 8th instant, the date of the commencement of the 
negotiations for surrender, except such bodies of cavalry as 
actually made their escape previous to the surrender, and except 
also such pieces of artillery as were more than twenty miles 
from Appomattox Court House at the time of surrender on the 

9th instant. 

(Signed,) 
John Gibbon, Maj.- Gen. Vols. J. Longstreet, Lieut.- Gen. 

Charles Griffin, Brevet Maj.-Gen. J. B. Gordon, Maj.-Gen. 

U. S. Vols. W. N. Pendleton, Brig.-Gen. and 

W. Mereitt, Brevet Maj.-Gen. Chief of Arfy." 

80 



634 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

The terms accorded by General Grant were generous and 
noble. Whatever cause he may have given to the Southern 
people at any former period to think harshly of him, he more 
than atoned for it in this act, and they should never forget or 
cease to appreciate the manly spirit with which he refused to 
take advantage of their distresses and helplessness, as so many 
of his countrymen demanded. General Grant may well be 
proud of it, for it was the greatest act of his life. 

I must now return to the army. When the flag of truce ap- 
peared on Gordon's line, a feeling of surprise and curiosity to 
know what it meant pervaded the ranks. Soon it was told from 
man to man that the army was to be surrendered to the enemy. 
General Lee had been seen riding to the rear, dx'essed with more 
care than usual, and with his swoi'd, which he rarely wore, 
buckled on. Later it was stated authoritatively that the service 
of the army was at an end. The emotions of the men are hard 
to describe. There was a feeling of relief that the long, unequal 
struggle was over, mingled with an agonized regret for the fail- 
ure of the cause they had so nobly upheld. The troops were 
very silent, in their grief, and they moved about and spoke to 
each other with that hushed, subdued air which men wear when 
in the presence of death. 

Soon General Lee was seen returning to his quarters from 
his interview with General Grant. The emotion of the men 
could be no longer controlled. Whole lines of battle broke 
ranks, and rushing up to him, crowded around their beloved 
commander, sobbing out words of comfort and affection, striv- 
ing with " a refinement of unselfishness and tenderness which he 
alone could fully appreciate, to lighten his burden, and mitigate 
his pain," and struggling with each other to take him once more 
by the hand. General Lee, usually so thoroughly master of 
himself, was completely overcome. With tears pouring down 
both cheeks, he exclaimed with deep emotion, '< Men, we have 



THE SURRENDER. 635 

fought through the war together. I have done the best that I 
could for you." Nothing more was said ; nothing more was 
needed. 

The next day General Lee took a formal leave of the army 
in the following noble address : 

" Headquarters Arsit op Northern Virginia, 
April 10, 1SG5. 

*' After four years of arduous service, marked by unsurpassed 
courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been 
compelled to yield to overwhelming numbers and resources. 

* ' I need not tell the survivors of so many hai'd fought bat- 
tles, who have remained steadfast to the last, that I have 
consented to this result from no distrust of tlieni ; but feeling 
that valor and devotion could accomplish nothing that could 
compensate for the loss that would have attended the continuation 
of the contest, I have determined to avoid the useless sacrifice 
of those whose past services have endeared them to their 
countrymen. 

" By the terms of agreement, officers and men can return to 
their homes, and remain there until exchanged. 

"You will take with you the satisfaction that proceeds from 
the consciousness of duty faithfully performed ; and I earnestly 
pray that a merciful God will extend to you His blessing and 
protection. 

" With an unceasing admiration of your constancy and 
devotion to your country, and a grateful remembrance of your 
kind and generous consideration of myself, I bid you an affec- 
tionate farewell. 

R. E. Lee, General." 

The victors were considerate and generous in all things. 
They issued food liberally to the starving troops of the van- 



636 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

quished army, and . carefully refrained from anything that 
might seem to insult the fallen greatness which they could but 
admire. 

On the 12th of April the Army of Northern Virginia formed 
by divisions for the last time. Marching to a spot near Appo- 
mattox Court House, the troops parked their artillery, stacked 
their muskets, deposited their accoutrements, and laid down 
forever the colors they loved so well. About seven thousand 
five hundred men with arms surrendered, but there were 
present, and included in the capitulation nearly eighteen thou- 
sand unarmed stragglers. Two thousand cavalry under Fitz- 
hugh Lee and Rosser had effected their escape previous to the 
closing in of Sheridan's lines, but these afterwards surrendered 
and were included within the terms granted to the rest of the 
army. The surrender was received by Major-General Gibbon, 
of the Federal army, General Grant generously remaining at 
his quarters. 

The Confederate officers and men were paroled, the array 
was disbanded, and the survivors turned their faces homeward. 
The great Army of Northern Virginia that had been so long 
the admiration of tlie world was now a thing of the past. 

General Lee, accompanied by his Staff, had already departed 
for Richmond, and on the afternoon of the 12th, reached it. 
Passing through the city, he rode towards his residence. On 
tlie way he was recognized, and a crowd of citizens and Fed- 
eral soldiers at once surrounded him, greeting him with loud 
cheers, in which the Federals joined right heartily. Riding 
rapidly to escape them, he reached his house. As he dis- 
mounted, the crowd pressed upon him, and the cheers grew 
louder. It was the greeting of a conqueror rather than that 
of the conquered. After acknowledging the compliment, and 
shaking hands with those who were immediately around him, 
he escaped into his home, which had been scrupulously respected 
and protected by the Federals. 



THE SURRENDER. 637 

It does not belong to this narration to describe the closing 
scenes of the Confederacy.* That task must be performed by 
the historian of the war. My work is done. I have followed 
General Lee from his infancy to the surrender of the great army 
which his genius made so glorious, and I lay down my pen, 
with the hope that I have not labored in vain. Neither is it 
permitted to me to tell how, grateful for the service he had ren- 
dered them, the people of Virginia selected him to preside over 
the training of their children, in the institution founded by the 
illustrious Washington ; nor to tell how great tlie Southern 
commander has proved himself in the peaceful and modest 
retirement of his home. There may he long remain, sur- 
rounded by the love and respect of his countrymen, and the 
admiration of those in all lands that honor the Christian soldier, 
who, having been charged with the fate of a nation, never failed 
in his duty, but was faithful unto the end. 

* See Note H. 



KOIE8. 639 



NOTES. 



The following correspondence occurred between General Lee 
and the Federal Authorities in communicatins: the views and 
intentions of the Southern Government. 

" Headquarters Department of Virginia, 
July 21, 1862. 

" To Major-General G. B. McClellan, commanding Army of the 
Potomac : 

" General : It has come to my knowledge that many of our 
citizens, engaged in peaceful avocations, have been arrested and 
imprisoned because they refused to take the oath of allegiance to 
the United States, while others, by hard and harsh treatment, 
have been compelled to take an oath not to bear arms against 
that Government. 

"I have learned that about one hundred of the latter class have 
recently been released from Fortress Monroe. This Government 
refuses to admit the right of the Authorities of the United States 
to arrest our citizens and extort from them their parole not to 
render military service to their country, under the penalty of 
incurring punishment in case they fall into the hands of your 
forces. I am directed by the Secretary of War to inform you 
that such oaths will not be regarded as obligatory, and persons 
who take them will be retjuired to render militaiy service. Should 
your Government treat the rendition of such service by these 



b'4U LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

persons as a breach of parole, and punish it accordingly, this 
Government will resort to retaliatory measures, as the only 
means of compelling the observance of the rules of civilized 
warfare. 

I have the honor to be, very respectfully. 

Your obedient servant, 

(Signed), R. E. Lee, General Commanding." 

" Headquarters of Armt United States, 
Washington, August 13, 18G2. 

"To Major-General George B. McClellan, commanding Army of the 
Potomac : 

"General: I have just received from the Adjutant-Gen- 
eral's office your letter of July 30th, inclosing a letter from 
General R. E. Lee, of July 21st. 

" The letters of General Dix and Major Moore will furnish 
you with the proper information for a reply to Gen. Lee's com- 
plaints in regard to the treatment of prisoners at Fortress Mon- 
roe. The Government of tlie United State? hns never authorized 
any extortion of oaths of ;'Jk'^•i;l!u,•e or i.-iilirnry pnroles, and has 
forbidden any measures to be re.^(;ited to lending to that end. 

"Instead of extorting oaths of allegiance and parole, it has 
refused the applications of several thousand prisoners to be 
permitted to take them and return to their homes in the rebel 
States. 

"At the same time, this Government claims and will exercise 
the right to arrest, imprison, or place beyond its military lines any 
persons suspected of giving aid and information to its enemies, or 
of any other treasonable act ; and if persons so arrested voluntarily 
take the oath of allegiance, or give their military parole, and 
afterwards violate their plighted faith, they will be punisiied ac- 
cording to the laws and usages of war. You will assure Gen. 
Lee that no unseemly threats of retaliation on his part will deter 
this Government from exercising its lawful rights over both per 



NOTES. 641 

sons and property, of whatever name or character. Very 
respectfully, your obedient servant, 

(Signed,) H. W. Halleck, Gen. -in-Chief U. S.Army. 

" IIeadquartkrs of the Army U. S., 

Washington, August 7, 18G2. 
"To Gen. R. E. Lee, commanding Confederate States Army : 

'* General : Your letter of July Gth was received at the 
Adjutant-General's office on the 14th, but supposing from its 
endorsement that it required no further reply, it was filed without 
being shown to the President or Secretary of War. I loarn to- 
day, for the first time, that said letter had been received, and 
hasten to reply. 

" No authentic information has been received in relation to 
the execution of either John Owen or Mumford, but measures 
will be immediately taken to ascertain the facts of those alleged 
executions, of which you will be duly informed. 

" I need hardly assure you, General, that so far as the United 
States Authorities are concerned, this contest will be carried on 
in strict accordance with the laws and usages of modern war- 
fare, and that all excesses will be duly punished. 

" In regard to the burning of bridges within our lines by per- 
sons in disguise as peaceful citizens, I refer you to my letter of ' 
the 22nd of January last to General Price. I think you will 
find the views there expressed as not materially differing from 
those stated in your letter. In regard to retaliation by taking 
the lives of innocent persons, I know of no modern authority 
which justifies it, except In the extreme case of a war with any 
uncivilized foe, which has himself first established such a barbar- 
ous rule. The United States will never countenance such a 
proceeding, unless forced to do so by the barbarous conduct of 
an enemy who first applies such a rule to our citizens. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

H. W. Halleck, General-in-Chief, U. S. Army." 

81 



642 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

"Headquarters Army of tue " C. S." 
Near Richmond, Aug. 2, 18G2. 

" "o THE General Commanding the Army of the U. S., "Washington : 

" General : On the 29th of June last I was instructed by 
the Secretary of War to inquire of Major-General McClellan as 
to the truth of alleged murders committed on our citizens by 
officers of the United States army. The cases of Wm. B- 
Mumford, reported to have been murdered at New Orleans, by 
order of Major-General B. F. Butler, and Colonel John Owen, 
reported to have been murdered in Missouri, by order of Major- 
General Pope, were those referred to. I had the honor to be 
informed by Major-General McClellan that he had referred these 
inquiries to his Government for a reply. No answer has as ye*^ 
been received. 

*' The President of the Confederate States has since beei 
credibly informed that numerous other officers of the army of 
the United States within the Confederacy, have been guilty o: 
felonies and capital offences which are punishable by all laws, 
human and divine. I am directed by him to bring to your notice 
a few of those best authenticated. Newspapers received from 
the United States announce as a fact that Major-General Hun- 
ter has armed slaves for the murder of their masters, and has 
thus done all in his power to inaugurate a servile war, which is 
more than that of the sav^ige, inasmuch as it superadds other 
horrors to the indiscriminate slaughter of all ages, s.exes, and 
conditions. 

" Brigadier-General Phelps is reported to have initiated in 
New Orleans, the example set by Major-General Plunter, on 
the coast of South Carolina. Brigadier-General G. N. Fitch 
is stated, in the same journals, to have murdered, in cold blood, 
two peaceful citizens, because one of his men, Avhile invading 
our country, was killed by some unknown person while defend- 
ing his home. 

" I am instructed by the President of the Confederate States 



NOTES. (343 

to repeat the inquiry relative to the cases of Mumford and 
Owena, and to ask whether the statements relative to the action 
of Generals Hunter, Phelps, and Fitch, are admitted to be true, 
and whether the conduct of these generals is sanctioned by their 
Government. 

" I am further directed by his Excellency, the President, to 
give notice that, in the event of not receiving a reply to these 
inquiries within fifteen days from the delivery of this letter, It 
will be assumed that the alleged facts are true, and are sanc- 
nonea by the Government of the United States. In such 
event, on that Government will rest the responsibility of the 
retribution or retaliatory measures which shall be adopted t*" 
put an end to the merciless atrocities which now characterize) 
the war against the Confederate States. 

I am, most respectfully, your obedient servant, 
(Signed) R. E. Lee, General Commanding.''^ 

" Headquarters Army of the " C. S." 

Near Richmond, Aug. 2, 18G2. 
" To THE General Commanding U. S. Army, Washington, D. C. : 

"General: In obedience to the order of His Excellency, 
the President of the Confederate States, I have the honor to 
make to you the following communication : 

" On the 22d July last, a cartel for a general exchange of 
prisoners of war was signed between iVIajor- General D. H. 
Hill, in behalf of the Confederate States, and Major-Gencral 
John A. DLx, in behalf of the United States. 

' ' By the terms of the cartel it is stipulated that all prison- 
ers of war hereafter taken shall be discharged on parole till 
exchanged. 

" Scarcely had that cartel been signed when the military 
authorities of the United States commenced a practice ciianging 
the whole character of the war, from such as becomes civilized 
nativjus into a campaign of indiscriminate robbery and murder. 



644 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

" The general order issued by the Secretary of War of the 
United States, in the city of Washington, on the very day the 
cartel was signed in Virginia, directs the military commanders 
of the United States to take the private property of our people 
for the convenience and use of their armies, without compensa- 
tion. 

"The general order issued by Major-General Pope, on the 
23d day of July, the day after signing of the cartel, directs the 
murder of our peaceful inhabitants as sj^ies, if found quietly 
tilling the farms in his rear, even outside of his lines, and one 
of his Brigadier-Generals, Steinwehr, has seized upon innocent 
and peaceful inhabitants to be held as hostages, to the end that 
they may be murdered in cold blood if any of his soldiers are 
killed by some unknown persons whom he designates as ' Bush- 
whackers.' 

" We find ourselves driven by our enemies by steady 
progress towards a practice which we abhor, and which we are 
vainly struggling to avoid. Under these circumstances, this 
Government has issued the accompanying general order, which 
I am directed by the Pi'csident to transmit to you, recognizing 
jNIajor-General Pope and his commissioned officers to be in the 
position which they have chosen for themselves, — that of rob- 
bers and murderers, and not that of public enemies, entitled, 
if captured, to be treated as prisoners of war. 

" The President also instructs me to inform you that we re- 
nounce our right of retaliation on the innocent, and will con- 
tinue to treat the private enlisted soldiers of General Pope's 
army as prisoners of war ; but if, after notice to your Govern- 
ment that we confine repressive measures to the punishment 
of commissioned officers, who are willing participants in those 
crimes, the savage practice threatened in the order alluded to be 
persisted in, we shall be reluctantly forced to the last resort of 
accepting the war on the terms chosen by our enemies, until the 



NOTES. 645 

voice of air outraged humanity shall compel a respect for the 
recoirnized usasres of war. 

" While the President considers that the facts referred to 
would justify a refusal on our part to execute the cartel by 
which we have agreed to liberate an excess of prisoners of war 
in our hands, a sacred regard for plighted fiiith which shrinks 
from the semblance of breaking a promise, precludes a resort to 
such an extremity ; nor is it his desu-e to extend to any other 
forces of tlie United States the punishment merited by General 
Pope, and such commissioned officers as choose to participate iii 
the execution of his infamous order. 

" I have the honor to be very respectfully your obedient 
servant, 

(Signed) R. E. Lee, General Commanding.''^ 

"Headquarters of the Army, 

Washington, Aug. 9, 18G2. 

" General E. E. Lee, commanding Confederate States Armies : 

" General: Your two communications of the 2d instant. 
with enclosures, are received. As these papers are couched in 
language exceedingly insulting to the Government of the 
United States, I must respectfully decline to receive them. 
They are returned herewith. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

H. W. Halleck, 
General-in-Chief U. S. Army." 



B 

The assertion made concerning the superiority of the Federal 
cavalry over that of the Confederates needs an explanation, and 
I have concluded to present it here rather than in the body of 



646 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

the work, so that I may not interrupt the thread of the narra- 
tive. 

When the war began, tlie Southern Government was de- 
cidedly reluctant to employ cavalry in its anny, and it was not 
until the necessity of this branch of the service had been forced 
upon it that it consented to authorize the enlistment of cavalry. 
No encouragement was ever held out to this arm of the service. 
A narrow policy influenced the Government throughout the 
war. The men were required to provide their own horses. 
The popular idea seems to be that this is the best Avay to secure 
good horses. The experience of the war proved the contrary. 
The Government of a country will always provide better horses 
than can be purchased by individuals, one reason being that it 
has more ready money for this purpose, and a wider field to 
select from. Besides this, the war proved that the owners of 
horses were unwilling to risk them in a fight. Men are always 
more willing to place the pi'operty of other persons in danger 
than to hazard their own. The reader will readily agree with 
me that it is suicidal in a Government to fail to remove, at any 
cost, the cause of any hesitation on the part of so important a 
branch of the service. The horses of the Confederacy wei'C, owing 
to the miserable mismanagement of tlie Quartermaster's Depart- 
ment, almost always half starved. In this condition they were 
required to perform the most arduous service, which so greatly 
weakened them that it was impossible for the cavalry command- 
ers of the Southern army to keep their troops in a good state 
of discipline. The Federal cavalry had an abundance of for- 
age, and were thus enabled to keep their horses so well fed that 
their drills were but exercise for them, and in battle they had 
(he advantage which a disciplined force always enjoys over 
undisciplined troops. 

Another cause was the manner in which the troops were 
armed. At the outset of the war the Southern cavalry werp 



NOTES. 647 

armed with the sabre. This, unfortunately, was soon super- 
seded by the pistol, and finally by the gun, musket, or any other 
species of fire-arms the men could pi'ocure. The Government 
failed to provide a sufficiency of sabres — the true weapon of 
the cavalry — and neglected, or refused to arm the men with 
the light carbine, such as was used in the Federal service. The 
result was that the Soutiiern horsemen were not cavalry in tlie 
strict sense of the term. They were part cavalry, but princi- 
pally mounted infantry, employing their horses to carry them 
into the figlit, and then dismounting and using their heavy mus- 
kets or rifles. Their pistols were only good at close quarters, 
and even then the superiority of the sabre showed itself. So far 
as the men themselves were concerned, no better material ever 
existed. They were brave and reckless in attack, full of fire 
and enthusiasm, and capahle of enduring, as they often did with 
cheerful courage, the severest hardships. In tiiis respect the 
Federal troops never surpassed them. Tlie real cause of tne 
deficiency of the Southern cavahy was the neglect with which 
this part of tlie service was treated by tlie Government. 

In this connection the following letter from iMnjor-General 
W. H. F. Lee, wi-itten near the close of the war, is both inter- 
esting and valuable. 

" Richmond, November, 29, ISGi. 

" Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 
letter of the 23d instant. As to the requirements and princi- 
ples to be observed in the reorganization of the cavalry, and 
to-day comply as succinctly as possible with your wishes relative 
to my ideas on the subject. 

" The cavalry of the Army of Northern Virginia is composed 
of the best material for troopers in the world. They are intel- 
ligent men, naturally excellent riders, and mounted on good 
horses, and require only, to make them more efiicient, organ- 
ization. First, more horse feed ; second, to be more thoroughly 



648 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

and constantly drilled mounted ; third, to be better armed. As 
far as my observation extends, the cavalry are vi^ell drilled on 
foot and with the sabre, as far as laid down in the cavalry 
tactics, but could not be perfected in the mounted drill for the 
reason that the Jiorses, from want of a sufficient supply of food, 
cannot stand the required work. The enemy, on the contrary, 
being supplied in greater abundance, their mounted drills are 
mere exercise for tiie horses ; and, in this respect only (save in 
numbers,) is their cavalry superiors to ours. Here is the 
advantage. Badly drilled squadrons charge, the men scatter in 
every direction ; opposing squadrons, well drilled, moving in 
compact mass, fall upon the isolated fragments and overwhelm 
them in detail. Experience teaches the proper arm for cavalry 
to be — a pistol, (Colt's navy size the best,) a breech-loading 
carbine, (Sharp's preferred,) and a sabre. The Government 
has never been able to supply the demand for cavalry arms ; 
they ought to be imported. Our most efficient arms have been 
captured from the enemy, but of course not in sufficient quanti- 
ties to meet the demand. 

" The Government ought to furnish horses, at least to meri- 
torious troopers who are no longer capable of furnishing their 
own ; and next, to all cavalry serving out of their own States. 
Existing orders now require permanently dismounted men to be 
transferred to infantry, wdiich is manifestly unjust to the deserv- 
ing, well-trained trooper, whose circumstances are reduced, in 
many instances, by the enemy's incursions and depredations. 
Cases exist, however, sometimes requiring the transfer of cav- 
alrymen to infantry organizations; for such men, soldiers, 
particularly distinguished for feats of courage, should be ex- 
changed as an equivalent. The military axiom, that in all well 
disciplined, drilled commands, one soldier is as good as another, 
approxi/nates to a neai'er degree of truth with reference to 
infantry than cavalry ; for whilst the former admit of a higher 



NOTES. 649 

state of discipline, the latter fight more detached and scattered, 
and individual dash has a greater influence. It generally 
requires, too, more courage to go into a fight on horseback than 
on foot. Should this principle be observed, the infantry soldier 
would have an incentive to deeds of valor, viz : the reward of 
putting him on horseback — and the cavalry be composed 
of men who would ride uj^ to and over almost anything. 

" There should be prom2U and just legislation to provide pay- 
ment for all horses killed or permanently disabled in the line 
of duty, whether in action or otherwise, as long as the owner- 
ship remains with individuals. The regimental quartermaster 
ought to have the authority, with the approval of the Colonel, 
and upon the necessary certificates, to pay all such accounts in 
his regiment. 

" Now soldiers are paid for horses only when killed in battle, 

and the accounts have to pass through so many hands, that an 

unnecessary delay is produced even in that payment. A courier 

ridino; his horse a mven number of miles in a c'iven time, bear- 
er o ^ ' 

ing important despatches, breaks his horse down and has to 
abandon .him, receives nothing, although he is ordered to make 
the time. A soldier has his horse permanently disabled by a 
wound, probably necessitating his being left in the enemy's 
hands, receives nothing, and, unless he can purchase another, is 
transferred to infantry. 

" I have written very hastily, but I think you will see what 
is really wanting. Whilst cavalry cannot play the important 
part in large combats, owing to the improved range of arms, 
nature of country, &c., it formerly has done in European wars, 
still the demand for it everywhere is very great, and unless 
Congress takes the matter in hand, and legislates more liberally 
on the subject, the enemy next spring will ride rough-shod over 
the whole State. 

I am, sir, your obedient servant, 
82 W. F. Lee, Mujor-Gcncral." 



650 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE, 



c 



The system of furloughs Is given at length in the following 
order. 

*' Headquaktebs Akmy of Northern Virginia, 
August 16, 1863. 
"GENERAL ORDERS, 
No. 84. 

" In order to allow as many of our brave soldiers to visit 
their families and friends as can be done consistently with the 
good of the service, and at the same time give some reward for 
meritorious conduct, a system of furloughs is hereby instituted 
in this army. 

" These furloughs will be granted, in the first instance, at the 
rate of two for every one hundred men present for duty ; sub- 
sequently, at the rate of one for every one hundi-ed men present 
for duty. 

" This system will be continued as long as the exigencies of 
the service will permit. Should the eifect not be found prejudi- 
cial, commanders of regiments and battalions will forward on 
each occasion, the most urgent and meritorious cases from those 
recommended by the company officers, for the approval of their 
superior commander. 

" The time will be regulated accordino; to the followin": 

o o o 

table : 

"Virginia, 15 days ; North Carolina, 18 days; South Car- 
olina, 20 days ; Georgia and Tennessee, 24 days ; Florida, 
Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana, 30 days. 

" Furloughs will be granted equally to soldiers from States 
and districts with which communication is cut oif, but in no case 
will these furloughs carry pei'mission to go within the enemy's 



NOTES. 651 

lines or paSs through them. The time for such cases will be 
regulated by the number of days allowed for the State in the 
above list which they intend to visit. 

** The men furloughed will be authorized to bring back strag- 
glers and recruits who may come in their way. 

By command of General R. E. Lee, 

W. H. Taylor, A. A. G." 



D 

That it was Colonel Dahlgren's intention to commit the 
atrocities mentioned, admits of no doubt. The following ad- 
dress to his command, which was found upon his person, will 
prove this. It was written on a sheet of paper, having in 
printed letters on the upper corner — 

" Headquarters Third Division Cavalry Corps. 
" Officers and Men : 

"You have been selected from brigades and refjiments as a 
picked command to attempt a desperate undertaking — an un- 
dertaking which, if successful, will write your names on the 
hearts of your countrymen in letters that can never be erased, 
and which will cause the prayers of our fellow soldiers now 
confined in loathsome prisons to follow you and yours wherever 
you may go. 

*' We hope to release the prisoners fi'om Belle Island first, 
and having seen them fairly started we will cross tlie James 
Kiver into Richmond, destroying the bridges after us, and ex- 
horting the released prisoners to destroy and burn the hateful 
city, and do not allow the rebel leader Davis and his traitorous 
crew to escape. The prisoners must render great assistance, as 



652 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

you cannot leave your ranks too far or become too much scat- 
tered, or you will be lost. 

" Do not aow any personal gain to lead you off, which 
would only bring you to an ignominious death at the hands of 
citizens. Keep well together, and obey orders strictly, and all 
will be well, but on no account scatter too far ; for in union 
there is strength. 

" With strict obedience to orders, and fearlessness in the 
execution, you will be sure to succeed. 

" We will join the main force on the other side of the city, 
or perhaps meet them inside. 

' ' Many of you may fall ; but if there is any man here not 
willing to sacrifice his life in such a great and glorious under- 
taking, or who does not feel capable of meeting the enemy in 
such a desperate fight as will follow, let him step out, and he 
may go hence to the arms of his sweetheart, and read of the 
braves who swept through the city of Richmond. 

" We want no man who cannot feel sure of success in such 
a holy cause. 

" We will have a desperate fight; but stand up to it when 
It does come, and all will be well. 

" Ask the blessing of the Almighty, and do not fear the 
enemy. 

U. Dahlgken, Colo7iel Commanding." 

Besides this address were the following " special orders and 
instructions," which were written upon a similar sheet of paper, 
giving an outline of the whole plan of the enemy ; 

"Guides — Pioneers (with oakum, turj^entine, and torpe- 
\loes) — Signal Officer — Quartermaster — Commissary : 
" Scouts and pickets — Men in I'ebel uniform : 
" These will remain on the north bank and move down with 



NOTES. 653 

the force on the south bank, not getting ahead of them ; and if 
the communication can be kept up whhout giving ahirni, It must 
be done ; but everything depends upon a surprise, and NO ONE 
must allowed to pass ahead of the column. Infoi'mation must 
be gathered in regard to the crossings of the river, so that should 
we be repulsed on the south side we will know where to recross 
at the nearest point. All iniUs must be burned, and the canal 
dcbtroyed ; and also everything which can be used by the rebels 
must be destroyed, including the boats on the river. Should a 
iferry-boat be seized and can be worked, have it moved down. 
Keep the force on the south side posted of any Important move- 
ment of the enemy, and In case of danger some of the scouts 
must swim the river and bring us information. As we approach 
the city, the party must take great cai-e that they do not get 
ahead of the other party on the south side, and must conceal 
themselves and watch our movements. We will try and secui'e 
the bridge to the city (one mile below Belle Isle,) and release 
the prisoners at the same time. If we do not succeed, they must 
then dash down, and we will try and carry the bridge from each 
side. 

" When necessary, the men must be filed through the woods 
and along the river bank. The bridges once secured, and the 
prisoners loose and over the river, the bridges will be secured 
and the city destroyed. The men must keep together and well 
in hand, and once in the city it must be destroyed, and Jeff. 
Davis and Cabinet Jcilled. 

"Pioneers will go along with combustible material. The 
officer must use his discretion about the time of assisting us. 
Horses and cattle, which we do not need immediately, must be 
shot rather than left. Everything on the canal, and elsewhere, 
of service to the rebels, must be destroyed. As Gen. Custar 
may follow me, be careful not to give a false alarm. 



654 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

' ' The si_fmal-officer must be prepared to communicate at night 
by rockets, and in other things pertaining to his department. 

* ' The quartermasters and commissaries must be on the lookout 
for their departments, and see that there are no delays on their 
account. 

"The engineer-officer will follow to survey the road as we 
pass over it, &c. 

"The pioneers must be prepared to construct a bridge or 
destroy one. They must have plenty of oakum and turpentine 
for burning, which will be rolled in soaked balls and given to 
the men to burn when we get in the city. Torpedoes will only 
be used by the pioneers for destroying the main bridges, &c. 
They must be prepared to destroy railroads. Men will branch 
off to the right, with a few pioneers, and destroy the bridges 
and railroads south of Richmond, and then join us at the city. 
They must be well prepared ivith torpedoes, &c. The line of 
Falling Creek is probably the best to work along, or, as they 
approach the city, Goode's Creek ; so that no reenforcements 
can come up on any cars. No one must be allowed to pass 
ahead for fear of communicating news. Rejoin the command 
with all haste, and, if cut off, cross the river above Richmond, 
and rejoin us. Men will stop at Bellona Arsenal and totally 
destroy it, and anything else bnt hospitals ; then follow on and 
rejoin the command at Richmond with all haste, and, if cut off, 
cross the river and rejoin us. As Gen. Custar may follow me, 
be careful and not give a false alarm." 

In addition to the above, the private note book of Colonel 
Dahlgren contained the following memoranda, some of which 
seem to have been written with great haste. 

" Pleasanton will govern details. 

" Will have details from other commands (four thousand). 

" Michiffan men have started. 



NOTES. 655 

•* Cclonel J. H. Devereaux has torpedoes. 

" Hanover Junction (B. T. Johnson). 

" Maryland Lhie. 

[Here follows a statement of the composition and numbers 
of Johnson's command] . 

" Chapin's Farm — seven miles below Richmond. 

♦'One brigade (Hunton's relieved Wise, sent to Charles- 
town] . 

*' River can be forded half a mile above the city. No 
works on South Side. Hospitals near them. River fordable. 
Canal can be crossed. 

"Fifty men to remain on north bank, and keep in commu- 
nication, if possible. To destroy mills, canal, and burn every- 
thing of value to the rebels. Seize any lai-ge ferry boats, and 
note all crossings, in case we have to return that way. Keep 
us posted of any important movement of the rebels, and, as we 
approach the city, communicate with us, and do not give the 
alarm before they see us in possession of Belle Isle and tiic 
bridge. If engaged there, or unsuccessful, they must assist in 
securing the bridges until we cross. If the ferry boat can be 
taken and worked, bring it down. Everything that cannot be 
secured or made use of must be destroyed. Great care must 
be taken not to be seen or any alarm given. The men must 
be filed along off the road or along the main bank. When we 
enter the city the officer must use his disoretion as to when to 
assist in crossinsj the bridges. 

" The prisoners once loosed and the bridges crossed, the city 
must be destroyed, burning the public buildings, &c. 

" Prisoners to go with party. 

" Spike the heavy guns outside. 

♦' Pioneers must be ready to repair, destroy, &c. Turpen- 
tine will be provided. The pioneers must be ready to destroy 



C56 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

tlie Richmond briga(]es, after we have all crossed, and to destroy 
the railroad near Frederick's Hall, (station, artillery, &g.) 

^ ^ w ^(^ # # 

" Fifteen men to halt at Bellona Arsenal, while the column 
goes on, and destroy it. Have some prisoners. Then rejoin 
us at R; leaving a portion to watch if anything follows, under 
a good officer. 

' ' Will be notified that Custar may come. 

" jNIain column, four hundred. 

<' One hundred men will take the bridge after the scouts, 
and dash through the streets and open the way to the front, or, 
]f it is open, destroy everything in the way. 

" "While they are en the big bridges, one hundred men will 
take Belle Isle, after the scouts instructing the prisoners to gut 
the city. The reserve (two hundred) will see this fairly done 
and everything over, and then follow, destroying the bridges 
after them, and then destroy the city; going up tlie principal 
streets and destroying everything before them, but not scatter- 
ing too much, and always haying a part well in hand. 

" Jeff Davis and Cabinet must be killed on the spot." 

The proof afforded by these papers will mot admit of a doubt 
»f the murderous intention of the Federal commander. The 
/luthenticity of the papers has been denied by the fatlier of Col- 
onel Dahlgren, but the denial was accompanied by no proof. 
The genuineness of the papers is well shown by the following 
letter from General Fitz Lee, in transmitting them to the War 
Department, and the statement of Mr. Halbach, wliich follows 
it. 



NOTES. 657 

" Headquarters Lee's Division, 
" Cavalry Corps, Army Northerx Va., 

March 31, 1864. 

" General S. Cooper, Adjutant and Inspector- General : 

"General: I have the honor to enclose to you Colonel 
Duhlgren's note book, just sent to me by Colonel Beall, com- 
manding 9th Virginia cavalry. Had I known of its existence it 
Avould have been forwarded with the ' papers.' 

" His name and rank is written on tlie first page, with the 
date (probably) of his purchasing it. The book, amongst other 
memoranda, contains a rough pencil sketch of his address to his 
troops, differing somewhat from his pen and ink copy. I em- 
brace this occasion to add, the original papers bore no marks of 
alteration, nor could they possibly have been changed except b}^ 
the courier who brought them to me, which is in the highest 
degree improbable ; and the publications of them in the daily 
Eichmond papers were exact copies, In every respect, of the 
orio'inal. 

Very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 
" (Signed) Fitz Lee, 

Major- General Commanding J' 

Statement of Edward W. Halbach. 

"In the summer of 1863, I, Edward W. Halbach, was 
living at Stevensville, in King and Queen county, Virginia. I 
had already been exempted from military service on account of 
the condition of my health, and was now exempt as a school- 
master, having the requisite number of pupils. But feeling it 
my duty to do what I could to encounter the raids of the enemy, 
I determined to form a company of my pupils between the ages 
of thirteen and seventeen years. My commission and papers 
prove that the company was formed, and accepted by the Prc- 
83 



658 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

sident for * Local Defence.' A member of this company, thir- 
teen years of age at the time, captured the notorious ' Dahlgren 
Papers.' The name of this boy is William Littlepage. 

" Littlepage and myself were at Stevensville when the rang- 
ers passed that place on their way to the appointed place of 
ambush. Being determined to participate in the affair, we set 
off on foot having no horses to ride, and reached the rendezvous 
a little after dark. The Yankees came up in a few hours and 
were fired on. Immediately after this fire, and while it was 
still doubtful whether the enemy would summon up courage 
enou"-!! to advance again, in a word, before any one else ven- 
tured to do 60, Littlepage ran out into the road, and, finding a 
' dead Yankee' there, proceeded to search his pockets to see, 
as he said, if he might not be fortunate enough to find a watch. 
The little fellow wanted to own a watch, and as the Yankees 
had robbed me, his teacher, of a gold watch a short while be- 
fore, I suppose he concluded that there would be no harm in 
his taking a watch from a ' dead Yankee ; ' but his teacher 
alwnys discouraged any feeling of this kind in his pupils. 
Littlepage failed to secure the prize by not looking in the over- 
coat pockets, and the watch (for there was really one) was 
found afterwards by Lieutenant Hart. But in searching the 
pockets of the inner garments, Littlepage did find a cigar-case, 
a memorandum book, &c. 

" When the Yankees had been driven back and thrown into 
a panic by the suddenness of our fire and the darkness of the 
ni2;ht, a Confederate lieutenant, whom the enemy had captured 
at Frederick's Hall, embraced the opportunity presented to make 
his escape, and actually succeeded in getting over to our side. 

" We could, by this time, hear the enemy galloping rapidly 
over the field, and arrangements were soon made to prevent 
their possible escape. Our foi'ce determined to go down the 
road towards King and Queen Court House, and barricade it. 



NOTES. 659 

" But, as before mentioned, myself and the only member of 
my company I had with mc, were on foot, and unable to keep 
up with the horsemen. It was therefore decided that the pris- 
oners whom we had captured should be left in my charge. In 
the confusion, however, all the prisoners had been carried off 
by others, save the one claiming to be a Confederate officer, 
which he afterwards proved to be — and a gallant one at that. 
But, under the circumstances, I felt compelled to treat him as 
an enemy until time should prove him a friend. 

'* Wishing to find a place of safety, and feeling that it would 
be hazardous for so small a party to take any of the public roads 
(for we knevr not how many more Yankees there were nor in 
what direction they might come), I decided to go into the 
woods a short distance, and there spend the night. My party 
consisted of myself, Littlepage, the ' lieutenant,' and several 
other gentlemen of King and Queen, County. We walked 
into the woods about a quarter of a mile and sat down. 

" Up to this time, we had not even an intimation of the 
name and rank of the officer commanding the enemy. In fact, 
we felt no curiosity to know. All we cared for was to punish 
as severely as possible the raiders with whom we were contend- 
ing. We knew that one man was killed, but knew not who he 
was. We were just getting our places for the night, and wrap- 
ping up with blankets, garments, etc., such as we had, for the 
ground was freezing, and we dared not make a fire, when Lit- 
tlepage pulled out a cigar-case and said, 

" ' Mr. Halbach, will you have a cigar?' 

" ' No,' said I; ' but where did you get cigars these hard 
times ? ' 

' ' He replied that he had got them out of the pocket of the 
Yankee who had been killed, and that he had also taken from 
the same man a memorandum book and some papers. 



660 LITE OF GENERAL LEE. 

<' 'Well,' said I, 'William, you must give me the papers, 
and you may keep the cigar-case.' 

" Littlepage then remarked that the dead Yankee had a 
wooden leg. Here, the ' lieutenant,' greatly agitated, ex- 
claimed : 

' ' ' How do you know he has a wooden leg ? ' 

"'I know he has,' replied Littlepage, 'because I cauglit 
hold of it and tried to pull it off.' 

" ' There ! ' replied the lieutenant, ' you have killed Colonel 
Dahlgren, who was in command of the enemy. His men were 
devoted to him, and I would advise you all to take care of 
yourselves now, for If the Yankees catch you with anything be- 
longing to him, they will cei'tainly hang us all to the nearest 
tree.' 

" Of course it was impossible for us to learn the contents of 
the papers without making a light to read them by, or waiting 
until the next morning. We did the latter; and, as soon as 
day broke the papers were read and found to contain evenj line 
and every word as afterwards copied into the Richmond news- 
papers. Dahlgren's name was signed to one or more of the 
papers, and also written on the inside of the front cover of his 
memorandum book. Here, the date of purchase, I suppose, 
was added. This book had been written with a des-ree of haste 
clearly Indicated by the frequent interlineations and corrections, 
but the orders referred to had also been rewritten on a separ- 
ate sheet of paper; and, as thus copied, were published to the 
world. Some of the papers were found loose In Dahlgren's 
pockets, others were between the leaves of the memorandum 
book. 

" The papers thus brought to light were preserved by myself 
in the continual presence of witnesses of unquestionable verac- 
ity, until about two o'clock in the afternoon of the day after 
their capture ; at which time myself and party met Lieutenant 



NOTES. 661 

Pollard, who, up to this time, knew nothing in the world of 
the existence of the Dahlgren Papers. At his request I let 
him read the papers, after doing which he requested me to let 
him carry them to Richmond. At first I refused, for I thought 
that I knew what to do with them as well as any one else. 
But I was finally induced, by my friends, against my will, to 
surrender the papers to Lieutenant Pollard, mainly in consid- 
eration of the fact that they would reach Richmond much 
sooner through him than through a semi- weekly mail. The 
papers which were thus handed over to the Confederate Gov- 
ernment, — I state it again, — ivcre correctly copied by the Rich- 
moiid neiospapers. 

"A thousand and one falsehoods have been told about this 
affair, by our own men as w^ell as by the Yankees. Some of 
our men were actuated by motives of selfishness and ambition 
to claim each one for himself the whole credit of the affair, 
when, in fact, the credit belongs to no particular individual, 
but, collectively, the whole of our party. We were a strange 
medley of regulars, raw troops, old fiirmcrs, preachers, school- 
boys, etc. But I believe that all present did their duty, only 
to find all the credit afterwards claimed, with a considerable 
degree of success, among the ignorant, by those who were not 
present. 

" The credit of the command of our party belongs alone to 
Captain Fox, than whom there was no more chivalric spirit in 
either army. In making this statement, I am actuated only by 
a desire to do justice to the memory of one who was too un- 
assuming to sound his own trumpet. I am also told, by soldiers, 
that Lieutenant Pollard deserves a considerable degree of cred- 
it for the part he played in following and harassing the enemy 
up to the time they took the right fork of the road near But- 
ler's Tavern. 

" You are, of course, aware of the fact that the enemy has 



662 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

always denied the authenticity of the Dahlgren Papers, and 
declared them to be forgeries. To prove the utter absurdity 
and falsehood of such a charge, I submit the following : 

"1. The papers were taken by Littlepage from the person 
of a man whose name he had never heard. It was a dark 
night, and the captor, with the aid of the noon-day sun, could 
not write at all. I afterwards taught him to write a little in 
my school. 

" The question occurs : Can a boy who cannot write at all, 
write such papers, and sign to them an unknown name? If 
they had been forged by any one else, would they have been 
placed in the hands of a child? Could any one else have 
forged an unknown and unheard-of name? 

" 2. The papers were handed to me immediately after their 
capture, in the presence of gentlemen of undoubted integrity 
and veracity, before whom I can prove that the papers not 
only were not, but could not have been altered or interpolated 
by. myself. These gentlemen were with me every moment of 
the time between my receiving the papers and my delivering 
them to Lieutenant Pollard. 

"3. If Lieutenant Pollard had made any alterations in the 
papers, these would have been detected by every one who read 
the papers before they were given to him, and afterwards read 
them in the newspapers. But all agree that they were cor- 
rectly copied. In short, human testimony cannot establish any 
fact more fully than the fact that Colonel Ulric Dahlgren was 
the author of the ' Dahlgren Papers.' 

" With regard to the part taken by myself in this affair, I 
lay no claim to any credit. I do not write this version of the 
affair to gain notoriety. I have made it a rule not to mention 
my own name except in cases where I found that false impres- 
sions were being made upon the public mind. You know very 
well that my being Littlepage's captain entitled me to claim the 



NOTES. G63 

capture of the papers for myself. But this I have never done. 
And, even when called upon by General Fitz Lee to give my 
affidavit to the authenticity of the papers, I wrote him word 
that Littlepage was the captor of them. In his letter to Lieu- 
tenant Pollard, which was forwarded to me, he asked, ' Who 
is Captain Halbach?' I replied, for myself, that I was noth- 
ing more than the humble captain of a company of schoolboys, 
and that if I deserved any credit, it was only so much as he 
might choose to give me for preserving the papers, when ad- 
vised to destroy them, to avoid being captured with them in my 
possession, which, I was told, would result in the hanging of 
our little party. 

*' I have never-given the information herein contained before, 
because I had hoped that it would be given to the public by 
others, and I give it now, because I regard it as a duty to do so. 
My own course, after the killing of Dahlgren was as follows : I 
joined those who agreed to bury him decently in a coffin, and 
in compliance with a promise made to a scout by the name of 
Hogan, I prepared a neat little head-board with my own hands, 
to mark his grave. This was not put up, because the messenger 
from Mr. Davis came for the body of Dahlgren while we were 
takinof it out of the ground where it had been hastily buried. 



E 

On page 29, I referred to the statement of the Honorable 
Montgomery Blair with reference to the command of the United 
States Army being offered to General Lee in 1861. The fol- 
lowino; extract contains the declarations referred to. 

" Let me observe here : It was the fall of Sumter that pro- 
duced on the instant the ordinance of secession and filled 



nG4 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Virginia with tro.ops from the Gulf States to carry it before the 
people. Its effect upon ordinary, pien may be conceived by the 
influence it exerted over General Lee. My father was author- 
ized by the President and Mr. Cameron, Secretary of War, to 
converse witli General Lee and ascertain whether he would 
accept the command of our army in the field. The latter was 
written for and he met my father at my house, where they con- 
versed for an hour or more. It was a few days before the 
ordinance was passed. General Lee concluded the conversation 
by saying : ' Secession was anarchy,' and added : ' if he owned 
the four million of slaves in the South ' he would cheerfully sac- 
rifice them to the Union ; but he did not know how he could 
draw his sword on his native State. He said he would see 
General Scott on the subject before he decided. A committee 
from the Virginia Convention, while the General and my father 
conversed, were hunting for him tlu'ough the city. They met 
on his leaving the house. He repaired with them to consult 
with the Convention, as I have since learned, about some mode 
of settlement. The fall of Sumter settled the question for him 
and the Convention." 



F 

Since writing the narrative of the Second Campaign m 
Northern Virginia, I have concluded to append the following 
dispatch from General Lee to the Confederate Government. 

" Headquarters Army of Northern Vriginia, 
October 23, 1863. 
*' General S. Cooper, A. & I. General : 

"General — In advance of a detailed report, I have the 
honor to submit, for the information of the department, the fol- 
lowing outline of the recent operations of this army : 



NOTES. 665 

" Witli the desiG-n of brinfrino: on an eno-aorement with the 
Federal army, which was encamped around Culpepper Court 
House, and extending thence to the Rapidan, this army crossed 
that river on the 9th instant, and advanced by way of Madison 
Court House. Our progress was necessarily slow, as the march 
was by circuitous and concealed roads, in order to avoid the ob- 
servation of the enemy. 

" General Fitz Lee, with his cavalry division and a detach- 
ment of infantry, remained to hold our lines south of the Rapi- 
dan. General Stuart, with Hampton's division, moved on the 
right of the column. With a portion of his command he 
attached the advance of the enemy near James City on the tenth, 
and drove them back towards Culpepper. Our main body arrived 
near that place on the eleventh instant, and discovered that the 
enemy had reti'cated towards the Rappahannock, removing or 
destroying his stores. We were compelled to halt during the 
rest of the day to provision the troops, but the cavalry, under 
General Stuart, continued to press the enemy's rear-guard 
towards the Rappahannock. A large force of Federal cavalry 
in the mean time had crossed the Rapidan, after our movement 
began, but was repulsed by General Fitz Lee, and pursued 
towards Brandy Station. 

' ' Near that place the commands of Stuart and Lee united on 
the afternoon of the eleventh, and after a severe engagement 
drove the enemy's cavalry across the Rappahannock with heavy 
loss. 

" On the morning of the twelfth, the army marched in two 
columns, with the design of reaching the Orange and Alexan- 
dria Railroad north of the river, and interrupting the retreat of 
the enemy. 

♦ ' After a skirmish with some of the Federal cavalry at Jeifer- 
sonton, we reached the Rappahannock at Warrenton Springs in 
the afternoon, where the passage of the river was disputed by 
84 



666 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

cavalry and artillery. The enemy was quickly driven off by a 
detachment of our cavalry, aided by a small force of infantry 
and a battery. Early next morning (thirteenth) the march was 
resumed, and the two columns united at Warrenton in the after- 
noon, when another halt was made to supply the troops with 
provisions. The enemy fell back rapidly along the line of the 
railroad, and early on the fourteenth the pursuit was continued, 
a portion of the army moving by way of New Baltimore towards 
Bristoe Station, and the rest, accompanied by the main body of 
the cavalry, proceeded to the same point by Auburn Mills and 
Greenwich. Near the former place a skirmish took place be- 
ween General Ewell's advance and the rear-guard of the enemy, 
which was forced back and rapidly pui'sued. 

" The retreat of the enemy was conducted by several direct 
parallel roads, while our troops were compelled to march by 
difficult and circuitous routes. We were consequently unable 
to intercept him. General Hill arrived first at Bristoe Station, 
where his advance, consisting of two brigades, became engaged 
with a force largely superior in numbers, posted behind the rail- 
road embankment. The particulars of the action have not been 
officially reported, but the brigades were repulsed with some 
loss, and five pieces of artillery, with a number of prisoners, 
captured. Before the rest of the troops could be brought up, 
and the position of the enemy ascertained, he retreated across 
Broad Run. The next morning he was reported to be fortifying 
beyond Bull Run, extending his line towards the Little River 
Turnpike. 

" The vicinity of the intrenchments around Washington and 
Alexandria rendered it useless to turn his new position, as it was 
apparent that he could readily retire to them, and would decline 
an enojao-ement unless attacked in his fortifications. A further 
advance was therefore deemed unnecessary ; and, after destroy- 
ing the railroad from Cub Run southwardly to the Rappahan- 



NOTES. 667 

nock, the army returned on the 18th to the line of that river, 
leaving the cavalry in the enemy's front. 

" The cavalry of the latter advanced on the following day, 
and some skirmishing occurred at Buckland. General Stuart, 
v^nth Hampton's division, retired slowly towards Warrcnton, in 
order to draw the enemy in that direction, thus exposing his 
flank and rear to Gen. Lee, who moved from Auburn and at- 
tacked him near Buckland. As soon as Gen. Stuart heard the 
sound of Lee's guns, he turned upon the enemy, who, after a 
stubborn resistance, broke and fled in confusion, pursued by 
Gen. Stuart nearly to Haymarket, and by Gen. Lee to Gains- 
ville. Here the Federal infantry was encountrcd, and after 
capturing a number of them during the night, tlic cavahy slowly 
retired before their advance on the following day. When the 
movement of the army from the Rapidan commenced, Gen. 
Imboden w^as instructed to advance down the Valley, and guard 
the gaps of the mountains on our left. This duty w'as well per- 
formed by that officer ; and, on the 18th instant, he marched 
upon Charlestown, and succeeded, by a well-concerted plan, in 
surrounding the place and capturing nearly the whole force sta- 
tioned there, with all their stores and transportation, only a few 
escaping to Harper's Ferry. The enemy advanced from that 
place in superior numbers to attack Gen. Imboden, who retired, 
bringing off his prisoners and captured property, his command 
suffering very little loss, and inflicting some damage upon the 
pursuing column. In the course of these operations two thou- 
sand four hundred and thirty-six prisoners were captured, includ- 
ing forty-one commissioned officers. Of the above number, four 
hundred and thirty-four were taken by Gen. Imboden. 

"A more complete account, with a statement of our loss in 
killed, wounded and prisoners, will be forwarded as soon as the 
official reports have been received. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

R. E. Lee, General." 



668 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 



G 

The Gettysburg Campaign having been the turning-point of 
the war, and being still in many respects a matter of dispute 
between the North and the South, I have thou2:ht it best to call 
the reader's attention to the following outline report of General 
Lee. 

" Headquarters Army Northern Virginia, 
July 31, 1863. 

"General S. Cooper, A. & I. General, TIichmond, Va. 

' ' General : I have the honor to submit the following out- 
line of the recent operations of this army for the information 
of the Department : 

" The position occupied by the enemy opposite Fredericks- 
burg being one in which he could not be attacked to advantage, 
it was determined to draw him from it. The execution of this 
purpose embraced the relief of the Shenandoah Valley from the 
troops that had occupied the lower part of it during the winter 
and spring, and if practicable, the transfer of the scene of hos- 
tilities north of the Potomac. 

"It was thought that the corresponding movements on the part 
of the enemy, to which those contemplated by us would probably 
give rise, might offer a fair opportunity to strike a blow at the 
army therein, commanded by General Hooker, and that in any 
event that army Avould be compelled to leave Virginia, and pos- 
sibly to draw to its support troops designed to operate against 
other parts of the country. In this way it was supposed that the 
enemy's plan of campaign for the summer would be broken up, 
and part of the season of active operations be consumed in the 



NOTES. 669 

formation of new combinations, and the preparations that they 
would require. 

*'In addition to these advantages, it was hoped that other 
valuable results might be attained by military success. 

' ' Actuated by tliese and other important considerations that 
may hereafter be presented, the movement began on the 3d of 
June. McLaws' division of Longstreet's corps left Freder- 
icksburg for Culpepper Court House, and Hood's division, 
which was encamped on the Rapidan, marched to the same 
place. 

" They were followed on the 4th and 5th by Ewell's corps, 
leaving that of A. P. Hill to occupy our lines at Fredericks- 
burg. 

' ' The march of these troops having been discovered by the 
enemy on the afternoon of the 5th, and the following day, he 
crossed a force, amounting to about one army corps, to the 
south side of the Rappahannock, on a ponton-bridge laid down 
near the mouth of Deep Run. General Hill disposed of his 
command to resist their advance ; but as they seemed intended 
for the purpose of observation rather than attack, the movements 
in progress were not arrested. 

' ' The forces of Longstreet and Ewell reached Culpepper 
Court House by the 8th, at which point the cavalry, under 
General Stuart, was also concentrated. 

'* On the 9th a large force of Federal cavalry, strongly sup- 
ported by infantry, crossed the Rappahannock at Beverley's and 
Kelley's Fords, and attacked General Stuart. A severe engage- 
ment ensued, continuing from early in the morning until late in 
the afternoon, when the enemy was forced to reci-oss the river 
with heavy loss, leaving four hundred prisoners, three pieces of 
artillery and several colors in our hands. 

" General Jenkins, with his cavalry brigade, had been ordered 
to advance towards Winchester to cooperate with the iafantrj'- in 



670 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

the proposed expedition into the Lower Valley, and at the same 
time General Iraboden was directed, with his command, to 
make a demonstration in the direction of Romney, in order to 
cover the movement against Winchester, and prevent the enemy 
at that place from being reenforced by the troops on the line of 
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Both of these officers were 
in position when General Ewell left Culpepper Court House on 
the 10th. Crossing the Shenandoah near Front Royal, he 
detached Rodes' division to Berry ville, with instructions, after 
dislodo^ing: the force stationed there, to cut off the communica- 
tion between Winchester and the Potomac. With the divisions 
of Early and Johnson, General Ewell advanced directly upon 
Winchester, driving the enemy into his works around the town 
on the 13th. On the same day the troops at Berry ville fell 
back before General Rodes, retreating to Winchester. On the 
14th General Early stormed the Avorks at the latter place, and 
the whole army of General Milroy was captured or dispersed. 
Most of those who attempted to escape were intercepted and 
made prisoners by General Johnson. Their leader fled to 
Harper's Ferry with a small party of fugitives. 

"General Rodes marched from Berryville to Martinsburg, 
entering the latter place on the 14:th, where he took seven hun- 
dred prisoners, five pieces of artillery and a considerable quan- 
tity of stores. These operations cleared the Valley of the enemy, 
those at Harper's Ferry withdrawing to Maryland Heights. 
More than four thousand prisoners, twenty-nine pieces of 
artillery, two hundred and seventy wagons and ambulances, 
with four hundred horses, were captured, besides a large amount 
of military stores. Our loss was small. On the night that 
Ewell appeared at Winchester, the Federal troops in front of A. 
P. Hill at Fredericksburg recrossed the Rappahannock, and the 
next day disappeared behind the hills of Stafford. 



NOTES. 671 

'* The whole army of General Hooker withdrew from the 
line of the Rappahannock, pursuing the roads near the Potomac, 
and no favorable opportunity was offered for attack. It seemed 
to be the purpose of General Hooker to take a position which 
would enable him to cover the approaches to Washington City. 
With a view to draw him farther from his base, and at the same 
time to cover the march of A. P. Hill, who, in accordance with 
instructions, left Fredericksburg for the Valley as soon as the 
enemy withdrew from his front, Longstreet moved from Cul- 
pepper Court House on the 15th, and advancing along the east 
side of the Blue Ridge, occupied Ashby's and Snicker's Gaps. 
His force had been augmented while at Culpepper by General 
Pickett, with three brigades of his division. 

"The cavalry, under General Stuart, was thrown out in front 
of Longstreet to watch the enemy, now reported to be moving 
into Loudon. On the 17tli his cavalry encountered two brigades 
of ours under General Stuart, near Aldie, and was driven back 
with loss. The next day the engagement was renewed, the 
Federal cavalry being strongly supported by infantry, and Gen- 
eral Stuart was in turn compelled to retire. 

"The enemy advanced as far as Upperville, and then fell 
back. In these engagements General Stuart took about four 
hundred prisoners, and a considerable number of horses and 

arms. 

' ' In the meantime a part of General Ewell's corps had en- 
tered Maryland, and the rest was about to follow. General 
Jenkins with his cavalry, who accompanied General Ewell, 
penetrated Pennsylvania as far as Chambersburg. As these 
demonstrations did not have the effect of causing the Federal 
army to leave Virginia, and as it did not seem disposed to 
advance upon the position held by Longstreet, the latter was 
withdrawn to the west side of the Shenandoah, General Hill 
having already reached the Valley. 



672 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

* ' General Stuart was left to guard the passes of the moun- 
tains, and observe the movements of the enemy, whom he was 
instructed to harass and impede as much as possible, should he 
attempt to cross the Potomac. In that event, General Stuart 
was directed to move into Maryland, crossing the Potomac east 
or west of the Blue Ridge, as in his judgment should be best, 
and take position on the right of our column as it advanced. 

" By the 24th the progress of Ewell rendered it necessary 
that the rest of the army should be in supporting distance, and 
Longstreet and Hill marched to the Potomac. The former 
crossed at Williamsport, and the latter at Shepherdstown. The 
columns reunited at Hagerstown, and advanced thence into 
Pennsylvania, encamping near Chambersbui'g on the 27th. 

' ' No report had been received that the Federal army had 
crossed the Potomac, and the absence of the cavalry rendered 
it impossible to obtain accurate information. In order, how- 
ever, to retain it on the east side of the mountains after it 
should enter Maryland, and thus leave open our communication 
with the Potomac through Hagerstown and Williamsport, Gen- 
eral Ewell had been instructed to send a division eastward from 
Chambersburg to cross the South Mountains. Early's division 
was detached for this purpose, and proceeded as far east as 
York, while the remainder of the corps proceeded to Carlisle. 

" General Imboden, in pursuance of the instructions previously 
referred to, had been actively engaged on the left of Gen. Ewell 
during the progress of the latter into Maryland. He had 
driven off the forces guarding the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, 
destroying all the important bridges on that route from Cum- 
berland to Martinsburg, and seriously damaged the Chesapeake 
and Ohio Canal. 

' ' He subsequently took position at Hancock ; and after the 
arrival of Longstreet and Hill at Chambersburg, was directed 
to march by way of McConnellsburg to that place. 



NOTES. 673 

" Preparations were now made to advance upon Harrisburg ; 
but on the night of the 29 th information was received from a 
scout that the Federal army, having crossed the Potomac, was 
advancing northwards, and that the head of the cohmin had 
reached the South Mountains. As our communications with 
the Potomac were thus menaced, it was resolved to prevent his 
further progress in that direction by concentrating our army on 
the east side of the mountains. Accordingly, Longstreet and 
Hill were directed to proceed from Chambcrsburg to Gettys- 
burg, to which point Gen. Ewcll was also instructed to march 
from Carlisle. 

" Gen. Stuart continued to follow the movements of the 
Federal army south of the Potomac after our own had entered 
Maryland, and in his efforts to impede its progress, advanced 
as far eastward as Fairfax Court House. Finding himself unable 
to delay the enemy materially, he crossed the river at Seneca, 
and marched through Westminster to Carlisle, where he arrived 
after Gen. Evvell had left for Gettysburg. By the I'oute he pur- 
sued, the Federal army was interposed between his command 
and our main body, preventing any communication with him un- 
til his arrival at Carlisle. 

"The march toward Gettysburg was conducted more slowly 
than it would have been had the movements of the Federal 
army been known. 

" The leading division of Hill met the enemy in advance of 
Gettysburg, on the morning of the 1st of July. Driving back 
these troops to within a short distance of the town, he there en- 
countered a larser force, with which two of his divisions became 
engaged. Ewell, coming up with two of his divisions by the 
Heildersburg road, joined in the engagement. The enemy were 
driven through Gettysburg with heavy loss, including about five 
thousand prisoners and several pieces of artillery. 

" He retired to a high range of hills south and east of the 
85 



674 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

town. The attack was not pressed that afternoon, the enemy's 
force being unknown, and it being considered advisable to await 
the ai-rival of the rest of our troops. 

" Orders were sent to hasten their march, and in the mean- 
time every effort was made to ascertain the numbers and posi- 
tion of the enemy, and find the most favorable point of attack. 
It liad not been intended to fight a general battle at such a dis- 
tance from our base, unless attacked by the enemy ; but finding 
ourselves unexpectedly confronted by the Federal army, it be- 
came a matter of difficulty to withdraw through the mountains 
with our large trains. At the same time the country was un- 
favorable for collecting supplies while in the presence of the 
enemy's main body, as he was enabled to restram our foraging 
parties, by occupying the passes of the mountains with regular 
and local troops. A battle thus became, in a measure, unavoid- 
able. Encouraged by the successful issue of the engagement of 
the first day, and in view of the valuable results that would en- 
sue from the defeat of the army of Gen. Meade, it was thought 
advisable to renew the attack. 

" The remainder of Ewell's and Hill's corps having arrived, 
and two divisions of Longstreet's, our preparations were made 
accordingly. During the afternoon intelligence was received 
of the arrival of General Stuart at Carlisle, and he was ordered 
to march to Gettysburg and take position on the left. A full 
account of these engagements cannot be given until the reports 
of the several commanding officers shall have been received, 
and I shall only offer a general description. 

" The preparations for attack were not completed until the 
afternoon of the second. 

" The enemy held a high and commanding ridge along which 
he had massed a large amount of artillery. General Ewell oc- 
cupied tlic left of our line. General Hill the centre, and General 
Lono-street the right. In front of General Longstreet the en- 



NOTES. 675 

emy held a position, from which, if he could be driven, it was 
thought that our army could be used to advantage in assailing 
the more elevated ground beyond, and thus enable us to reach 
the crest of the ridge. That officer was directed to endeavor 
to carry this position, while General Ewell attacked directly the 
high ground on the enemy's right, which had already been par- 
tially fortified. General Hill was instructed to threaten the 
centre of the Federal line, in order to prevent reenforcements 
being sent to either wing, and to avail himself of any opportu- 
nity that might present itself to attack. 

" After a severe struggle Lono-street succeeded in setting 
possession of and holding the desired ground. Ewell also car- 
ried some of the strong positions which he assailed, and the re- 
sult was such as to lead to the belief that he would ultimately 
be able to dislodge the enemy. The battle ceased at dark. 

" These partial successes determined me to continue the as- 
sault next day. Pickett, with three of his brigades, joined 
Longstreet the following morning, and our batteries were 
moved forward to the position gained by him the day before. 

" The general plan of attack was unchanged, except that one 
division and two brigades of Hill's corps were ordered to sup- 
port Longstreet. 

" The enemy, in the meantime, had strengthened his line 
with earthworks. The morning was occupied in necessary 
preparations, and the battle recommenced in the aftcinoon of the 
third, and raged with great violence unlll sunset. Oar troops 
succeeded in entering the advanced works of the enemy, and 
getting possession of some of his batteries ; but our artillery 
having nearly expended its ammunition, the attacking columns 
became exposed to the heavy fire of the numerous batteries near 
the summit of the ridge, and, after a most determined and gal- 
lant struggle, were compelled to relinquish their advantage and 
fall back to their original positions, with severe loss. 



676 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

" The conduct of the troops was all that I could desire or 
expect, and they deserved success so far as it can be deserved 
by heroic valor and fortitude. More may have been required 
of them than they were able to perform, but my admiration of 
their noble qualities, and confidence in their ability to cope 
successfully with the enemy, has suffered no abatement from 
the issue of this protracted and sanguinary conflict. 

" Owing to the strength of the enemy's position and the I'c- 
duction of our ammunition, a renewal of the en^aiTement could 
not be hazarded, and the difficulty of jarocuring supplies ren- 
dered it impossible to continue longer where we were. Such 
of the wounded as were in condition to be removed, and part of 
the arms collected on the field, were ordered to Williamsport. 
The army remained at Gettysburg during the fourth, and at night 
began to retire by the road to Fairfield, carrying with it about 
four thousand prisoners. Nearly two thousand had previously 
been paroled, but the enemy's numerous wounded that had fal- 
len into our hands after the first and second day's engagements 
were left behind. 

"Little progress was made that night, owing to a severe 
storm which greatly embarrassed our movements. The rear of 
the column did not leave its position near Gettysburg until after 
daylight on the fifth. 

"The march was continued during that day without inter- 
ruption by the enemy, except an unimportant demonstration 
upon our rear in the afternoon, when near Fairfield, which was 
easily checked. Part of our train moved by the road tlirough 
Fairfield, and the rest by the way of Cashtown, guarded by 
General Imboden. In passing through the mountains, in ad- 
vance of the column, the great length of the trains exposed 
them to attack by the enemy's cavalry, which captured a num- 
ber of wagons and ambulances, but they succeeded in reaching 
Williamsport without serious loss. 



NOTES. 677 

*' They were attacked at that place on the 6th by the enemy's 
cavah-y, which was gallantly repulsed by General Imboden. 
The attacking force was subsequently encountered and driven 
off by General Stuart, and pursued tor several miles in the di- 
rection of Boonsboro. The army, after an arduous march, 
rendered more difficult by the rains, reached Hagerstown on tlie 
afternoon of the 6th and morning of the 7th July. 

"The Potomac was found to be so much swollen by the 
rains that had fallen, almost incessantly since our entrance into 
Maryland, as to be unfordable. Our communications with the 
south side were thus interrupted, and it was difficult to procure 
either ammunition or subsistence, the latter difficulty being 
enhanced by the high waters impeding the working of the neigh- 
boring mills. The trains with the wounded and prisoners were 
compelled to await at Williamsport the subsiding of the river 
and the construction of boats, as the ponton-bridge left at Fall- 
ing "Waters had been partially destroyed. The enemy had not 
yet made his appearance ; but as he was in condition to obtain 
large reenforcements, and our situation, for the reasons above 
mentioned, was becoming daily more embarrassing, it was 
deemed advisable to recross the river. Part of the ponton-bridge 
was recovered, and new boats built, so that by the 13th a good 
bridge was thrown over the river at Falling Waters. 

" The enemy in force reached our front on the 12th. A 
position had been previously selected to cover the Potomac from 
AVilliamsport to Falling Waters, and an attack was awaited 
during that and the succeeding day. This did not take place, 
though the two armies were in close proximity, the enemy being 
occupied in fortifying his own lines. Our preparations being 
completed, and the river, though still deep, being pronounced 
fordable, the army commenced to withdraw to the south side on 
the night of the 13th. 

♦♦ Ewell's corps forded the river at Williamsport, those of 



678 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Longstreet and Hill crossed upon the bridge. Owing to the 
condition of the roads the troops did not reach the bridge until 
after dayliglit on the 14th, and the crossing was not completed 
until 1 r. M., when the bridge was removed. The enemy of- 
fered no serious interruption, and the movement was attended with 
no loss of material except a few disabled wagons, and two 
pieces of artillery, which the horses were unable to move through 
the deep mud. Before fresh horses could be sent back for them 
the rear of the column had passed. 

"During the slow and tedious march to the bridge, in the 
midst of a violent storm of rain, some of the men lay down by 
the way to rest. Officers sent back for them failed to find 
many in the obscuriry of the night, and these, with some strag- 
glers, fell into the hands of the enemy. 

" Brigadier-General Pettigrew was mortally wounded in an 
attack made by a small body of cavalry, which was unfortun- 
ately mistaken for our own and permitted to enter our lines. 
He was brought to Bunker Hill, where he expired a few days 
afterwards. He was a brave and accomplished officer and 
gentleman, and his loss will be deeply felt by the country and 
the army. 

" The following day the army marched to Bunker Hill, in the 
vicinity of which it encamped for several days. The day after 
its arrival, a large force of the enemy's cavalry, which had 
crossed the Potomac at Harper's Ferry, advanced towards Mart- 
insburg. It was attacked by General Fitz Lee, near Kearneys- 
ville, and defeated with heavy loss, leaving its dead and many 
of its wounded on the field. 

" Owing to the swollen condition of the Shenandoah Eiver, 
the plan of operations which had been contemplated when we 
recrossed the Potomac could not be put in execution, and be- 
fore the waters had subsided the movements of the enemy 
induced me to cross the Blue Ridge and take position south of 
the Rappahannock ; which was accordingly done. 



NOTES. GTD 

*' As soon as the reports of the commandhig officers shall he 
received, a more detailed account of these operations will be 
given, and occasion will then be taken to speak more particularly 
of the conspicuous gallantry and good conduct of both officers 
and men. 

*' It is not yet in my power to give a correct statement of our 
casualties, which were severe, including many brave men, and 
an unusual proportion of distinguished and valuable officers. 
Among them, I regret to mention the following general offi- 
cers : jNIaj or- Generals Hood, Pender and Trimble severely, and 
Major-General Heth slightly wounded, 

" General Pender has since died. This lamented officer has 
borne a distinguished part in every engagement of this army, 
and was wounded on several occasions while leading his com- 
mand with conspicuous gallantry and ability. The confidence 
and admiration inspired by his courage and capacity as an officer 
were only equalled by the esteem and respect entertained by all 
with Avhom he was associated, for the noble qualities of his 
modest and unassuming character. Brigadier-Generals Barks- 
dale and Garnett were killed, and Brigadier-General Semmes 
mortally wounded w^hile leading their troops with the courage 
that always distinguished them. These brave officers and pa- 
triotic gentlemen fell in the faithful discharge of duty, leaving 
the army to mourn their loss and emulate their noble examples. 

" Brigadier-Generals Kemper, Armistead, Scales, G. T. 
Anderson, Hampton, J. M. Jones and Jenkins, were also 
wounded. Brigadier-General Archer was taken prisoner. Gen- 
eral Pettigrew, though wounded at Gettysburg, continued in 
command until he was mortally wounded near Falling Waters. 

"The loss of the enemy is unknown, but from observations 
on the field, and his subsequent movements, it is supposed that 
he suflfered severely. 

Respectfully submitted, 

E. E. Lee, General" 



G80 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 



H 

I closed the narrative of the life of General Lee with hia 
return to his home after the surrender of his army. But as 
everything connected with his career is of great interest to the 
country, I have been induced to notice here the last of his pub- 
lic acts — namely, his inauguration as the President of Wash- 
ington College, and his testimony before the Reconstruction 
Committee of the Congress of the United States. 

The former event occurred on the 2nd of October 1865, and 
is thus described in a letter from a gentleman who Avas present : 

" General Robert E. Lee was to-day installed President of 
Washington College. There was no pomp or parade. The 
exercises of installation were the simplest possible — an exact 
and barren compliance with the required formula of taking the 
oath by the new President, and nothing more. This was in 
accordance with the special request of General Lee. It was 
proposed to have the installation take place in the college chapel, 
to send invitations far and wide, to have a band of music to play 
enlivening airs, to have young girls, robed in white and bearing 
chaplets of flowers, to sing songs of welcome, to have congra- 
tulatory speeches, to make it a holiday. That this proposed 
programme Avas not carried out was a source of severe disap- 
pointment to many. But General Lee had expressed his wishes 
contrary to the choice and determination of the college trustees 
and the multitude, and his wishes were complied with. 

" The installation took place at nine A. M. in a recitation room 
of the college. In this room were seated the foculty and the 
students, the ministers of the town churches, a magistrate and 
the county clerk, the last two officials being necessary to the 



NOiES. 681 

ceremonial. General Lee was Inducted into the room by the 
Board of Trustees. At his entrance and introduction all in the 
room rose, bowed and then became seated. Prayer by Rev. 
Dr. White, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, directly fol- 
lowed. To me it was a noticeable fact, and perhaps worthy of 
record, that he jf rayed for the President of the United States. 
Altogether it was a most fitting and impressive prayer. 

" The prayer ended. Judge Brockenbrough, chairman of the 
Board of Trustees, stated the object of their coming together, 
to install General Lee as President of Washinfjton Colleiie. He 
felt the serious dignity of the occasion, but it was a seriousness 
and dignity that should be mingled with heartfelt joy and glad- 
ness. Passing a brief eulogy upon General Lee, and congratu- 
lating the board and college, and its present and future students, 
on having obtained one so loved and great and Avortliy to preside 
over the college, he said he could say a great deal more, had It 
not been voted against speech-making. During the delivery of 
these few words, — and they came, despite of the prohibitory 
voting, very near culminating to the dignity of a set as well as elo- 
quent speech, — General Lee remained standing, his arms quietly 
folded, and calmly and steadfastly looking into the eyes of the 
speaker. Justice William White, at the instance of Judge Brock- 
enborough now administered the oath of office to General Lee. 
For tlie benefit of those curious to know the nature of this new 
oath, to which General Lee has just subscribed, and as it is brief, 
I will give It entire. It is as follows : — 

" ' ] do swear, that I will, to the best of my skill and judg- 
ment, faithfully and truly discharge the duties required of me 
by an act entitled ' ' An act for the incorporating the rector and 
trustees of Liberty Hall Academy," without favor, affection or 
partiality. So help me God.' 

<« To this oath General Lee at once affixed his signature, with 
the accompanying usual jurat of the swearing magistrate ap- 
86 



682 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

pended. Those inquisitive enough to seek further light than 
that revealed in the copied oath, can look at the act therein 
referred to, and, when found, make a note of it. The docu- 
ment, in the form stated, was handed to the County Clerk for 
safe and perpetual custodianship, and at the same time the keys 
of the College were given up by the Rector into the keeping of 
the new President. A congratulatory shaking of hands followed, 
and wound up the day's brief but pleasing, impressive, and 
memorable ceremonial. President Lee and those of the trustees 
present, with the faculty, now passed into the room set apart for 
the former's use, — a good sized room, newly but very tastefully 
furnished. 

"General Lee was dressed in a plain but elegant suit of 
gray. His appearance indicated the enjoyment of good health, 
— better, I should say, than when he surrendered his army at 
Appomattox Court House, the first and only occasion, before 
the present, of my having seen him." 



Li the early part of the year 1866, General Lee was sum- 
moned to Washington by the Congressional Committee on Re- 
construction, with which summons he promptly complied. The 
following examination then took place. 

General Lee's Testimony.- 

General Robert E. Lee, sworn and examined by Mr. Howard. 

Question — Where is your present residence ? Answer — 
Lexington, Virginia. 

Q. How long have you resided in Lexington? A. Since 
the first of October last, nearly five months. 

Q. Are you acquainted with tlie state of feeling among 
what we call secessionists, in Virginia, at present, toward the 
Government of the United States ? A. I do not know that I 



NOTES. 683 

am. I have been living very retired, and have had but little 
communication with politicians ; I know nothing more than from 
my own observation, and from such facts as have come to my 
knowledge. 

Q. From your observation Avhat is your opinion of the feel- 
ing of loyalty towards the Government of the United States 
among the secession portion of the people of that State at tliis 
time? A. So far as has come to my knowledge I do not know 
of a single person who either feels or contemplates any resist- 
ance to the Government of the United States, or, indeed, any 
opposition to it. No word has reached me to either purport. 

Q. From what you have observed among them is it your 
opinion that they are friendly toward the Government of tlie 
United States, and that they will cooperate to sustain and up- 
hold the Government for the future? A. I believe that they 
entirely acquiesce in the Government of the United States, and, 
so far as I have heard any one express an opinion, they are for 
cooperating with President Johnson in his polic}'. 

Q. In his policy in regard to what? A. His policy in 
regard to the restoration of the whole country. I have heard 
persons with v>'hom I have conversed express great confidence 
in the wisdom of his policy of restoration, and they seem to 
look forward to it as a hope of restoration. 

Q. How do they feel in regard to that portion of the people 
^f the United States who have been forward and zealous in the 
prosecution of the war against the rebellion? A. "Well, I don't 
know. I have heard nobody express any opinion in regard to it. 
As I said before, I have not had much communication with poli- 
ticians in tlie country, if there are any. Every one seems to be 
eno-aged in his own affairs and endeavoring to restore the civil 
Government of the State. I have heard no expressions of a 
sentiment towards any particular portion of the country. ^ 

Q. How do the secessionists feel in regard to the payment 



084 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

<if the debt of the United States, contracted in the prosecution 
of the war? A. I have never heard any one speak on the sub- 
ject. I suppose they must expect to pay the taxes levied by 
the Government. I have heard them speak in reference to the 
payment of taxes, and of their efforts to raise money to pay the 
taxes, wliich I suppose are for their share of the debt. I have 
never heard any one speak in opposition to the payment of the 
taxes, or resistance to their payment. Their whole effort has 
been to try and raise the money for the payment of their taxes. 

Q. From your knowledge of the state of tlie public feeling 
in Virginia, is it your opinion that the people would, if the 
question were left to them, repudiate and reject that debt? A. 
I never heard any one speak on the subject, but from my knowl- 
edge of the people, I believe they would be in favor of the pay- 
ment of all just debts. 

Q. Do they in your opinion regard that as a just debt? A. 
I do not know what their opinion is on the subject of that par- 
ticular debt. I have never heard any opinion expressed contrary 
to it. Indeed, as I said in the beginning, I have had very little 
discussion or intercourse witli the people. I believe the people 
will pay the debts they are called upon to pay. I say that from 
my knowledge of the people generally. 

Q. Would they pay that debt, or their portion of it, with 
as much alacrity as people ordinarily pay their taxes to their 
Government? A. I do not know that they would make any 
distinction between the two. The taxes laid by the Govern- 
ment, so far as I know, they are prepared to pay to the best of 
their ability. I never heai'd them make any distinction. 

Q. What is the feeling of that portion of the people of Vir- 
ginia in regard to the payment of the so-called Confederate 
debt? A. I believe, so far as my opinion goes, — I have no 
facts to go upon, but merely base my opinion on the knowledge 
I have of the people, — that they would be willing to pay tho 
Confederate debt, too. 



NOTES. 685 

Q. You think they would? A. I think they Avoukl if they 
had the power and ability to do so. I have never heaiil of any 
one of the State with whom I have convei'sed speak of repudia- 
ting any debt. 

Q. I suppose the Confederate is almost entirely valueless 
even in the markets in Virginia? A. Entirely so far as I know. 
I believe the people generally look upon it as lost entirely. I 
never heard any question on the subject. 

Q. Do you recollect the terms of the Confedei'ate bonds — 
when they were made payable? A. I think I have a general 
recollection that they were made payable six months after a 
declaration of peace. 

Q. Six months after the ratification of a treaty of peace be- 
tween the United States and the Confederate Government? A. 
I think they ran that way. 

Q. So that the bonds are not due yet by their terms? A. 
I suppose, unless it is considered that there is a peace now, they 
are not due. 

Q. How do the people in Virginia, secessionists more par- 
ticularly, feel towards the freedmen? A. Everyone with whom 
I associate express the kindest feelings towards the freedmen. 
They wish to see them get on in the world and particularly to 
take up some occupation for a living and to turn their hands to 
some work. I know that efforts have been made among the 
farmers near where I live to induce them to engage for the 
year at regular wages. 

Q. Do you think there is a willingness on the part of their 
old masters to give them fair living wages for their labor? A. 
I believe it is so. The farmers generally prefer those servants 
who have been living with them before. I have heard them 
express their preference for the men whom they know, who had 
lived with them before, and iheir wish to get them to return to 
work. 



686 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Q. Are you aware of the existence of any combination 
among the whites to keep down the wages of the blacks ? A. 
I am not. I have heard that in several counties the land 
owners have met in order to establish a uniform rate of wages, 
but I never heard, nor do I know, of any combination to keep 
down wages or establish any rate which they did not think fair. 
The means of paying wages in Virginia are very limited. Now 
and then there is a difference of opinion as to how much each 
person is able to pay. 

Q. How do they feel in regard to the education of the 
blacks ? Is there a o-eneral willinoness to have them educated ? 
A. Where I am and have been the people have exhibited a 
willingness that the blacks should be educated, and they express 
an opinion that it would be better for the blacks and for the 
whites. 

Q. General, you are very competent to judge of the capacity 
of black men for acquiring knowledge. I want your opinion on 
tliat capacity as compared with the capacity of white men? 
A. I do not know that I am particularly qualified to speak on 
that subject, as you seem to intimate, but I do not think the 
black man is as capable of acquiring knowledge as the white 
man. There are some more apt than others. I have known 
some to acquire knowledge and skill in their trade or profession. 
I have had servants of my own who learned to read and write 
very well. 

Q. Do they show a capacity to obtain knowledge of math- 
ematics and the exact sciences? A. I have no knowledge on 
that subject. I am merely acquainted with those who have 
learned the common rudiments of education. 

Q. General, are you aware of the existence among the 
blacks of Virginia, anywhere within the limits of the State, of 
combinations having in view the disturbance of the peace or any 
improper and unlawful acts ? A. I am not. I have seen no 



NOTES. G87 

evidence of it, and have heard of none. Wherever I have been, 
they are quiet and orderly, not disposed to work, or, rather, 
not disposed to any continuous engagement to work, but just 
very short jobs to provide them with the immediate means of 
subsistence. 

Q. Has the colored race generally as great love of money 
and property as the white race possesses ? A. I do not think 
it has. The blacks with whom I am acquainted look more to 
the present time than to the future. 

Q. Does that absence of a lust of money and property arise 
more from the nature of the negro than from his former servile 
condition? A. Well, it may be in some measure attributed to 
his former condition. They are an amiable, sociable race. They 
^ike their ease and comfort, and I think look more to tlieir pres- 
ent than their futui'e condition. 

Q. In the event of a war between the United States and any 
foreign power, such as England or France, if there should be 
held out to the secession portion of the people of Virginia or the 
other recently rebel States a fair prospect of gaining their inde- 
pendence and shaking off the Government of the United States, 
is it or is it not your opinion that they would avail themselves of 
that opportunity ? A. Icannot speak with any certainty on that 
point. I do not know how f;^r they might be actuated by their 
feelings. I have nothing whatever to base the opinion upon. 
So far as I know, they contemplate nothing of the kind now. 
What may happen In the future I cannot say. 

Q. Do you not frequently hear in your intercourse with se- 
cessionists in Virginia expressions of a hope that such a war may 
break out? A. I cannot say that I have; on tlie contrary, I 
have heard persons — I do not know whether you would call 
them secessionists or not, I mean those people in Virginia with 
whom I associate — express the hope that the country may not 
be led into a war. 



688 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Q. In such an event do you not think that class of people 
whom I call secessionists would join the common enemy? A. 
It is possible ; it depends upon the feelings of the individual. 

Q. If it is a fair question, — you may answer or not as you 
choose, — what in such an event might be your own choice? 
A. I have no disposition now to do it, and I never have had. 

Q. And you cannot foresee that such would be your inclina- 
tion in such an event? A. No, I can only judge from the past ; 
I do not know what circumstances it may produce. I cannot 
pretend to foresee events. So far as I know the feeling of the 
people of Virginia, they wish for peace. 

Q. During the civil war was it not contemplated by the 
Government of the Confederacy to form an alliance with some 
foreign nation if possible ? A. I believe it was their wish to do 
so if they could. It was their wish to have the Confederate Gov- 
ernment recognized as an independent Government. I have no 
doubt that if it could have made favorable treaties it would 
have done so, but I know nothing of the policy of the Govern- 
ment. I had no hand or part in it. I merely express my own 
opinion. 

Q. The question I am about to put to you, you may an- 
swer or not, as you choose. Did you take an oath of fidelity or 
allegiance to the Confederate Government ? A. I do not recollect 
having done so, but it is possible that when I was commissioned 
I did. I do not recollect whether it was required. If it was 
required I took it, or if it had been required I would have taken 
it, but I do not recollect whether it was or not. 

By Mr. Blow. 

Q. In reference to the effect of President Johnson's policy, 
if it were adopted, would there be anything like a return of the 
old feeling? I ask that because you used the expression " ac- 
quiescing in the result." A. I believe it would take time for 



NOTES. 689 

the feelings of the people to be of that cordial nature to the 
Government that they were formerly. 

Q. Do you think their preference for that policy arises from 
a desire to have peace and good feeling in the country, or from 
the probability of their regaining political power? A. So far 
as I know the desire of the people of the South, it is for the res- 
toration of their civil government, and they look upon tlie policy 
of President Johnson as the one which would most clearly and 
most surely reestablish it. 

Q. Do you see any change among the poorer classes in Vir- 
ginia in reference to their industry ? Are they as much or more 
interested in developing their material prosperity than they 
were? A. I have not observed any change. Everyone now 
has to attend to his business for his support. 

Q. The poorer classes are generally hard at work, are they? 
A. So far as I know, they are ; I know nothing to the contrary. 

Q. Is there any difference in their relations to the colored 
people? Is their prejudice increased or diminished ? A. I have 
noticed no change. So far as I know the feelings of all the 
people of Virginia, they are kind to the colored people. I have 
never heard any blame attributed to them as to the present con- 
dition of things or any responsibility. 

Q. There are very few colored laborers employed, I sup- 
pose? A. Those who own farms have employed more or less 
— one or two colored laborers. Some are so poor that they 
have to work themselves. 

Q. Can capitalists and working men from the North go into 
any portion of Virginia with which you are familiar and go to 
work among the people? A. I do not know of anything to 
prevent their peace and pleasure there. It would depend very 
much on their conduct. If they confined themselves to their 
own business, and did not interfere to provoke controversies 
with their neighbors, I do not believe they would be molested. 
87 



690 LIFE or GENERAL LEE. 

Q. There is no desire to keep out labor and capital? A. 
Not that I know of. On the contrary, they are very anxious 
to get capital into the State. 

Q. You see nothing of a disposition to prevent such a thing ? 
A. I have seen nothing, and do not know of anything, as I 
said before. The manner in which they would be received would 
depend entirely upon the individuals themselves. They might 
make themselves obnoxious, as you can understand. 

By Mr. Howard. 

Q. Is there not a general dislike of Northern men among 
seccessionists ? A. I suppose they would prefer not to asso- 
ciate with them. I do not know that they would select them 
as associates. 

Q. Do they avoid and ostracize some socially? A. They 
might avoid them. They would not select them as associates 
unless there was some reason. I do not know tliat they would 
associate with them until they became acquainted. I think it 
probable they would not admit them into their social circles. 

By Mr. Blow. 

Q. What is the position of the colored men in Virginia 
with reference to the persons they work for? Do you think 
they would prefer to work for Northern or Southern men ? A. 
I think it very probable they would prefer the Northern men, 
although I have no facts to go upon. 

Q. That having been stated very frequently in reference 
to the Cotton States, does it result from bad treatment on the 
part of the resident population, or from the idea that they will 
be more fairly treated by the new comers ? What is your ob- 
servation in that respect in regard to Virginians ? A. I have 
no means of forming an opinion ; I do not know any case in 
Virginia. I know of numbers of the blacks engaging with their 



NOTES. 691 

old masters, and I know of many to prefer to go off and look 
for new homes. Whether it is from any dislike of their former 
masters, or from any desire to change, or they feel more free 
and independent, I don't know. 

Q. What is your opinion in regard to the material interests 
of Virginia ? Do you think they will be equal to what they 
were before (he rebellion, under the changed aspect of affairs? 
A. It will take a long time for them to reach their former stand- 
ard. I think that after some years they will reach it, and 1 
hope exceed it, but it cannot be immediately, in my opinion. 

Q. It will take a number of years? A. It will take a 
number of years, I think. 

Q. On the whole, the condition of things in Virginia is 
hopeful, both in regard to its material interests and the future 
peace of the country? A. I have heard great hope expressed, 
and there is a irreat cheerfulness and willingness to labor. 

Q. Do you think that that is the main idea with them, or 
that they merely look to it, as you say, as the best means of 
3-estoring the civil government and the peace and prosperity of 
their respective States? A. As to the first point you make, I 
do not know that I ever heard any person speak upon it. I 
never heard the points separated. I have heard them speak 
generally as to the effect of the policy of President Johnson. 
The feeling is, so far as I know now, that there is not that 
equality extended to the Southern States which is enjoyed by 
the North. 

Q. You do not feel down there that while you accept the 
result we are as generous as we ought to be under the circinn- 
stances? A. They think that the North can afford to be gen- 
erous. 

Q. That is the feeling down there? A. Yes; and they 
think it is the best policy — those who reflect upon the subject 
and are able to judge. 



692 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Q. I understand it to be your opinion that generosity and 
liberality towards the entire South would be the surest means 
of regaining their good opinion? A. Yes, and the speediest. 

Di/ Mr. Howard. 

Q. I understand you to say generally that you had no ap- 
prehension of any combination among the leading secessionists 
to renew the war or anything of the kind? A. I have no 
reason in the world to think so. 

Q. Have you heard that subject talked over among any of 
the politicians? A. No, sir, I have not. I have not heard 
that matter even suggested. 

Q. Let me put another hypothetical state of things. Sup- 
pose the Executive Government of the United States should be 
held by a President, who, like Mr. Buchanan, rejected the right 
of coercion, and suppose a Congress should exist here entertain- 
ing the same political opinions, thus presenting to the once 
rebel States the opportunity to again secede from the Union, 
M'ould they or would they not, in your opinion, avail themselves 
of that opportunity, or some of them? A. I suppose it would 
depend upon the circumstances existing at the time. If their 
feelings should remain embittered and their affections alienated 
from the rest of the States, I think it very probable they might 
do so, provided they thought it was to their interest. 

Q. Do you not think that at the present time there is a 
deep seated feeling of dislike toward the Government of the 
United States on the part of the masses of the secessionists? 
A. I do not know that there is any deep seated dislike. I 
think it is probable that there may be some animosity still ex- 
isting among the people of the South. 

Q. Is there not a deep seated feeling of disappointment 
and chagrin at the result of the war? A. I think, that at the 
time, they were disappointed at the result of the war. 



NOTES. 693 

Q. Do you mean to be understood as saying there is not a 
condition of discontent against the Government of the United 
States among the secessionists generally? A. I know of none. 

Q. Are you prepared to say they respect the Government of 
the United States and the loyal people of the United States so 
much at the present time as to perform their duties as citizens 
of the United States and of the States faithfully and well ? A. 
I believe that they will perform all the duties that they are re- 
quired to perform. I think that is the general feeling so far 
as I know. 

Q. Suppose this policy of President Johnson should be all 
you anticipate and that you should also realize all that you ex- 
pect in the improvement of the material interests, do you think 
that the result of that will be the gradual restoration of the old 
feeling? A. That will be the natural result I think, and I see 
no other way in which that result can be brought about. The 
friends of the policy in the South adopt it because they see in it 
the means of repairing the political position, which they lost in 
the recent contest. 

Q. Do you think it would be practicable to convict a man 
in Virginia of treason for having taken part in this rebellion 
ugainst the Government, by a Virginia jury, without picking it 
with direct reference to a verdict of guilty? A. On that point 
I have no knowledge, and I do not know what they would con- 
sider treason against the United States, if you refer to past 
acts. 

Mr. Howard. — Yes, sir. A. I have no knowledge what 
their views on that subject in the past are. 

Q. You understand my question? Suppose a jury was em- 
panelled in your own neighborhood, taken by lot, would it be 
possible to convict, for instance, Jeff. Davis, for having levied 
war upon the United States, and thus having committed the 



694 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

crime of treason ? A.I think it is very pr »bable that they 
would not consider he h.ad committed treason. 

Q. Suppose the jury should be clearly and plainly instructed 
by the Court that such an act of war upon the part of Mr. 
Davis or any other leading man constituted in itself the crime 
of treason under the Constitution of the United States, would 
tlic jury be likely to heed that instruction, and, if the facts were 
plainly before them, commit the offender? A. I do not know, 
sir, what they would do on that question. 

Q. They do not generally suppose that it was treason against 
the United States, do they? A. I do not think that they so 
consider it. 

Q. In what light would they view it ; what would be the ex- 
cuse or justification? how would they escape in their own mind? 
I refer to the past. I am referring to the past and the feelings 
the}' would have? A. So far as I know, they look upon the 
action of the State in withdrawing itself from tiie Government 
of the United States as carrying the individuals of tlie State 
along with it ; that the State was responsible for the act, not the 
individuals, and that the ordinance of secession, so called, or 
those acts of the State which recognized a condition of war be- 
tween the State and the General Government, stood as tlieir 
justification for their bearing arms against the Government of 
the United States. Yes, sir; I think they would consider the 
act of the State as legitimate ; that they were merely using the 
reserved rights, which they had a right to do. 

Q. State, if you please, and if you are disinclined to answer 
the question you need not do so, what your own personal views 
on that question are. A. That was my view, that the act of 
Virginia, in withdrawing herself from the United States, carried 
me along as a citizen of Virginia, and that her laws and her 
acts were binding on me. Q. All that you felt to be your jus- 
tification in taking the course you did? A. Yes, sir. 



NOTES. 695 

Q. I have been told, General, that you have remarked to 
some of y'Our friends in conversation that you were rather 
wheedled or cheated into that course by politicians. A. I do 
not recollect makuig any such remark. I do not think \ ever 
made it. 

Q. If there is any other matter about which you wish to speak 
on this occasion, do so freely. A. Only in reference to that 
last question you put me. I may have said and may hare be- 
lieved that the positions of the two sections which they held to 
each other was brouglit about by the politicians of the country ; 
that the great masses of the people, if they imderstoud the real 
question, would have avoided it, but not that I had been individ- 
ually wheedled by the politicians. 

Q. That is probably the origin of the whole thing? A. I 
may have said tiiat, but I do not recollect it; but I did believe 
at the time that it was an unnecessary condition of affairs, 
and might have been avoided if forbearance and wisdom had 
been practised on both sides. 

Q. You say you do not recollect having sworn allegiance and 
fidelity to the Confederate Government? A. I do not recollect 
it, nor do I know tliat it was ever required. I was regulai-ly 
commissioned in the army of the Confederate States, but J do 
not really recollect that an oath was required. IF it was re- 
quired I have no doubt I took it, or if it had been required I 
would have taken it. 

Q. Is there any other matter which you desire to state to the 
committee? A. No sir. I am ready to answer any question 
which you think proper to put to me. 

Q. How would an amendment to the Constitution be received 
by the secessionists or by the people at large, allowing the col- 
ored people or certain classes of them to exercise the right of 
voting at elections ? A. I think, so far as I can form an opinion, 
in such an event, they would oi)ject. 



696 LI*£: OP GENERAL LEE. 

Q. They would object to such an arrangement? A. Yes 
sir. 

Q. Suppose an amendment nevertheless be adopted conferring 
upon the blacks the right of suffrage, would that, in your opi- 
nion, lead to scenes of violence or breaches of the peace between 
the two races in Virginia? A. I think it would excite unfriend- 
ly feelings between the two races. I cannot pretend to say to 
what extend it would go, but that would be the result. 

Q. Are you acquainted with the proposed amendment now 
pending in the United States Senate? A. No, sir, I am not; 
I scarcely ever read a paper. (The substance of the proposed 
amendment was explained to the witness by Mr. Conklin.) So 
far as I can see, I do not think that the State of Virginia would 
object to it. 

Q. Would she consent under any circumstances to allow the 
black people to vote, even if she were to gain a larger number 
of representatives in Congress? A. That would depend upon 
her interests. If she had the right of determining that, I do 
not see why she would object if It were to her Interest to admit 
those people to vote ; that might overrule any other objections 
that she had to it. 

Q. What in your opinion would be the practical result? 
Do you think that Virginia will consent to allow the negroes to 
vote? A. I think that at present she would accept the smaller 
representation. I do not know what the future may develop. 
If it shall be plain to her that these persons will vote properly 
and understandingly she might admit them to vote. 

By Mr. Blow. 

Q. Do you not think it would turn a good deal in the Cot- 
ton States upon the value of the labor of the black people, upon 
the amount which they produced ? A. In a good many States 
in the South, and in a good many counties in Virginia, if the 



NOTES. 697 

uii*v.n. ^j^^^.. allowed to vote, it would, I tliink, exclude 

representation that is proper. Intelligent people would not be 
elected, and rather than suffer that injury they would not let 
them vote at all. 

Q. Do you not think that the question as to whether any 
Southern States would allow the colored people the right of 
suffrage in order to increase representation, would depend a 
good deal on the amount which the colored people might con- 
tribute to the wealth of the State, in order to secure two tilings, 
first the larger representation, and second the influence derived 
from these persons voting? A. I think they would determine 
the question more in reference to their opinion as to tlie manner 
in which these votes would be exercised, whether they consider 
those people qualified to vote. My own opinion is that at this 
time they cannot vote intelligently, and that giving them the 
right of suffrage would open the door to a good deal of dema- 
goguism and lead to embarrassments in various ways. What 
the future may prove, how intelligent they may become, with 
what eyes they may look upon the interests of the State in which 
they may reside, I cannot say more than you can. 

Q. Is there any sympathy felt in the South with the schemes 
of emio;ration to Mexico? A. I believe that the mass of the 
people have not any sympatliy with them. There are indi- 
viduals who think their interests would be benefited and indeed 
that their prospects at home are so poor now that it is like 
losing their lives to remain. That feeling was stronger at the 
first cessation of hostilites than it is at this time. It seems to 
be subsiding. 

By Mr. Howard, 

Q. I will put one question to you, which you may respond 
to or not as you please. I wish to inquire whether you had 
any knowledge, while you were in command at Richmond, of 

87 



G98 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

the cruelties practised toward the Union prisoners at Libby 
Prison and on Belle Isle? A. I never knew that any cruelty 
was practised, and I have no reason to believe that it was prac- 
tised. I can believe, and have reason to believe, that privations 
may have been experienced by the prisoners, because I know 
that provisions and shelter could not be provided for tliera. 

Q. Were you not aware that the prisoners were dying from 
cold and starvation? A. I was not. 

Mr. Howard — I desire that you will speak your mind fully 
and freely on this subject, for it is useless to conceal from you 
the fact that there seems to have been created a sad feeling in 
the hearts of the people at the North. A. As regards myself, 
I never had any control over the prisoners, except those that 
were captured on the field of battle, when it was then my busi- 
ness to send them to Richmond to the proper officer who was 
then the provost-marslial -general. In regard to their disposi- 
tion afterwards I had no control. I never gave any order 
about it. It was entirely in the hands of the War Department. 

Q. And not in your hands? A. And not in mine. 

Q. Did these scenes come to your knowledge at all? A. 
Never. No report was ever made to me about them. There 
was no call for any to be made to me. I did liear, it was mere 
hearsay, that statements had been made to the War Depart- 
ment, and that everything had been done to relieve them that 
could be done, even finally so far as to offer to send them to 
some other points. Charleston was one point named, if they 
would be received by the United States authorities and taken 
to their homes ; but whether this is true or not I do not know. 
It was merely a report that I heard. 

Q. Were you in the same ignorance of the scenes at Ander- 
sonville and Salisbury ? A. I never knew the commandant at 
Andersonville until I saw by the papers, after the cessation of 



NOTES. 699 

hostilities, that Captain Wirz had been arrested on that ac- 
count, nor do I know now who commanded at Salisbury. 

Q. And of course you know nothing of the scenes of cruel- 
ty, about which complaints have been made at those places ? 
A. Nothing in the world, as I said before. I suppose they 
suffered from the v,-ant of ability on the part of the Confederate 
States to supply their wants. At the very beginning of tiie 
war I knew that there was suffering of prisoners on both sides, 
but as/ar as I could I did everything in my power to relieve 
them, and to establish the cartel which was established. 

By Mr. Blow. 

Q. It has been frequently asserted that the Confederate 
soldiers feel more kindly towards the Government of the United 
States than other persons or other people of the South. What 
are your observations on that point? A. From the Confeder- 
ate soldiers I have heard no expression of any other opinion. 
They looked upon the war as a necessary evil and went through 
it. I have seen them relieve the wants of Federal soldiers on 
the field. The orders always were that the whole field should 
be treated alike. Parties were sent out to take the Federal 
wounded as well as the Confederate, and the surgeons were told 
to treat the one as they did the other. These orders given by 
me were respected on every field. 

Q. Do you think that the good feeling on their part toward 
the rest of the people has continued since the close of the war ? 
A. I know nothing to the contrary. I made several efforts to 
exchange the prisoners after the cartel was suspended. I do 
not know to this day which side took the initiative. I know 
that there were constant complaints on both sides. I merely 
know it from public rumors. I offered to General Grant around 
Richmond that we should ourselves exchange all the prisoners 
iu our hands. There was a communication from the Christian 



700 LIFE OF GENERAL LEE. 

Commission, I think, which reached me at Petersburg, and 
made an application to me for a passport to visit all the prison- 
ers South. My letter to them I suppose they have. I told 
them that I had not that authority ; that it could only be ob- 
tained from the War Department at Richmond, but that neither 
they nor I could relieve the suffering of the prisoners ; that the 
only thing to be done for them was to exchange them ; and to 
show that I would do whatever was in my power, I offered them 
to send to City Point all the prisoners in Virginia and North 
Carolina over which my command extended, provided they re- 
turned an equal number of mine, man for man. I reported 
this to the War Department, and received an answer that they 
would place at my command all the prisoners at the South if the 
proposed proposition was accepted. I heard nothing more on 
the subject. 

Q. Has there been any considerable change in the number 
of the negro population in Virginia during the last four years ? 
A. I suppose it has diminished, but I don't know. 

Q. Diminished in consequence of more negroes going South 
than was made up by the natural increase? A. My general 
opinion is that the number has diminished, and for the reason 
you gave. 

Q. Do you suppose that the masses of the negroes in Vir- 
ginia, at the present time are able to work, — that there are not 
many helpless ones among them ? A. There are helpless ones 
certainl}', but I do not know to what extent. 

Q. What is your opinion about its being an advantage to 
Virginia to keep them there at all? Do you not think that Vir- 
ginia would be better off if the colored population were to go to 
Alabama, Louisiana and other Southern States ? A. I think 
it would be for the benefit of Viro;inia if she could jret rid of 
them. That is no new opinion with me. I have always 



NOTES. 701 

thouglit so and have always been in favor of emancipation, — 
gradual emancipation. 

Q. As a question of labor alone, do you not think that the 
labor which would flow into Virginia, if the negroes leave it for 
the Cotton States, would be more advantageous to the State and 
to its future prosperity? A. I think it would be for the bene- 
fit of Virginia, and I believe everybody there would be willing 
to aid it. 

Q. Do you not think that the State of Virginia is absolute- 
ly injured and its future impaired by the presence of the black 
population there? A. I think it is. 

Q. Do you not think it is peculiarly adapted to the quality 
of labor which would flow into it, from its great natural re- 
sources, in case it was more attractive by the absence of the 
colored race? A. I do. 



INDEX. 



Aldie, cavalry figbt at, 378. 

Amelia Court House — see General 
R. E. Lee. 

Antietam — see Sharpsburg. 

Appomattox Coui't House, surrender 
at, Q'iQ. 

Appomattox River — see General R. 
E. Lee ; also Lieutenant-Gen- 
eral U. S. Grant. 

Army of Northern Virginia, its or- 
ganization, 56 ; character of 
the army, 61 ; sufferings on the 
Peninsula, 8o ; conduct in Ma- 
ryland, 237 ; injured by strag- 
gling, 241 ; reorganization in 
fall of 1862, 279 ; division into 
corps cfarmie, 279 ; lack of 
disciplirre, 279 ; sufferings of 
the men, 280 ; generous con- 
duct of the army in Pennsyl- 
vania, 381 ; sufferings in the 
winter of 1863-64, 431 ; deser- 
tions, 431-572 ; sufferings from 
•want of food, 431 ; disappoint- 
mi^Mt in the New Year's dinner, 
567 ; sufferings and heroism of 
the army on the last retreat, 
617, surrender of the .army, 
636. 



Beauregard, General Gustave T., 
takes command at Manassas 
Junction, 37 ; defeats McDow- 
ell at Manassas, 40 ; takes com- 
mand of the forces south of the 
James River, 496 ; defeats 
Butler at Drewry's Bluff, 499 ; 
plan of battle ruined by Gen- 
eral Whiting, 500. 

Benjamin, Judah P., predictions of 
peace injurious to the South, 51. 

Bethel, battle of, 39. 

Blackburn's Ford, fight at, 40. 

Boonsboro, — see South Mountain. 

Brandy Station, battle of, 372. 

Brown, John, outbreak at Harper's 
Ferry, 24 ; he is captured by 
tlie United States marines, com- 
manded by Colonel R. E. Lee, 
26. 

Bristoe Station, fight at, 420. 

Burnsidc, Major-General A. E., 
takes command of the Army of 
the Potomac, 299 ; charactir. 
299 ; reorganizes his army, 300 ; 
moves to Fredericksburg, 303 ; 
error in not crossing the Rap- 
pahannock, 303 ; battle of Fred- 
ericksburg, 308 ; his cruelty 
(703) 



704 



INDEX. 



in bombarding Fredericksburg, 
311 : retreats across the Rap- 
pahannock, 321 ; the " mud 
march," 330; resigns his com- 
mission, 333 ; commands a corps 
in Meade's army, 450 ; the mine 
at Petersburg, 515. 
Butler, Major-General B. F., placed 
in command of United States 
forces south of James River, 
493 ; instructions from General 
Grant, 493 ; occupies City Point 
and Bermuda Hundreds, 496 ; 
advances to Port Walthal Junc- 
tion, 497 ; defeated by Beaure- 
gard at Drewry's Bluff, 499 ; 
" corked up " at Bermuda Hun- 
dreds, 500; Dutch Gap Canal, 
531 ; places Confederate pris- 
oners under fire at Dutch Gap, 
632. 

Catlett's Station, captured bv Stuart, 
204. 

Cavalry, Confederate, sufferings of 
in fall of 1862, 298 ; interior to 
Federal cavalry, 338 ; causes of 
this (NoteB), 645. 

Cedar Run — see Lieutenant-Gen- 
eral Jackson. 

Centreville, evacuation of, 73. 

Chancellorsville — see General R. E. 
Lee ; also Major-General Hook- 
er. 

Chambersburg — see Major-General 
Stuart; also Gettysburg cam- 
paign. 

Chickahominy River — see Penin- 
sular campaign ; also the over- 
land campaign. 

Coggings Point — see Peninsular cam- 
paign. 



Cold Harbor — see Peninsular cam- 
paign ; also the overland cam- 
paign. 

Commissariat, Confederate, inabil- 
ity of the South to feed the 
army, 435. 

Commissary General — see Colonel 
L. B. Northrop. 

Confederate army, list of Generals 
in, 36. 

Confederite Government, its incom- 
petence, 52 ; fails to rise to the 
necessity of the times, 53 ; pre- 
pares to abandon Richmond, 94 ; 
threatens retaliation for outrages 
of Pope's army, 190 ; blunders 
with regard to the conscription, 
430 ; violations of its contracts, 
438 ; system of impressments, 
439 ; outrages of the Govern- 
ment, 440. 

Conscription, the Confederate, 54; 
manner in which the Govern- 
ment aildptei! it. 55. 

Convention, of Virginia, reception 
of General Lee by Convention, 
32. 

Crampton's Gap — see South Moun- 
tain. 

Culpepper Court House — see Gen- 
eral R. E. Lee. 



Dahlgren, Colonel Ulric ; raid upon 
Richmond, 445 ; papers relating 
to It (Note D), 651. 

Davis, President Jefferson, retains 
General Lee in command of the 
army in Virginia, 36 ; vetoes 
the bill creating the office of 
Commanding General, 49 ; op- 
posed to the conscription, 52 ; 



INDEX. 



705 



his weakness, 55; sustains the 
Commissary - G eueral against 
commanders in the field, 57 ; re- 
sponsible for the sufferings of 
the Confederate army, 59 ; op- 
poses the formation of a compe- 
tent staff, 60 ; plan for a descent 
upon the Federal forces in Low- 
er INtaryland, 71 ; opposes Gen- 
eral Johnston's plan for an ag- 
gressive campaign, 71 j an- 
nounces his intention to defend 
Richmond, 94; address to the 
army, 168 ; letter of thanks to 
the ai-my, 366 ; failure to pur- 
chase supplies for the army, 
437 ; ideas about cotton, 437 ; 
unpatriotic conduct, 570; re- 
bukes General Lee, 573 ; disre- 
gard of the popular will, 573 ; 
conduct with regard to Mr. 
Seddon, 573; unpopularity with 
the people, 573 ; efforts to se- 
cure peace, 576 ; reply to the 
Virginia Legislature, 581 ; un- 
willingness to part with power, 
582; reveals the Confederate 
plans to the Federals, 586. 

Drcwry's Bluff, battle at in May 
1862, 95; see General R. E. 
Lee, also General G. T. Beau- 
regard. 

Early, Lieutenant-General J. A,, 
sent to the relief of Lynchburg, 
492; drives Hunter into Western 
Virginia, 493; invades Mary- 
land, 545 ; defeats General Wal- 
lace at Frederick Junction, 546 ; 
advances upon Washington, 
546; retreats into Virginia, 
546; his reasons for not at- 
tacking Washington, 547; re- 

83 



mains in the Valley, 547 ; Lee 
reenforces Early, 548 ; forces 
Sheridan down tlie Valley, 550 ; 
unfortunate conflict of authority 
between Early and Anderson, 
550 ; condition of his army, 551 ; 
description of General Early, 
552 ; error in the disposition of 
his forces, 553 ; defeated by 
Sheridan at Winchester, 554; 
retreats up the Valley, 556 ; l)at- 
tie of Fisher's Hill, 556 ; battle 
of Cedar Creek, 5G0 ; address 
to his army, 562 ; failure of the 
campaign, 565, relieved of his 
command, 565 ; letter from Gen- 
eral Lee, 566. 

Eltham^s Landing — see Peninsular 
campaign. 

Ewell, Lieutenant-General, R. S. 
See General R. E. Lee; de- 
fence against the charge of 
burning Richmond, 612. 



Fair Oaks Station — see Seven Pines. 

Federal Grovernment, first hostile 
measures of, 38 ; its energetic 
preparations for the Peninsular 
campaign, 75 ; vigorous meas- 
ures of, 177. 

Five Forks — see General R. E. Lee. 

Floyd, Brigadier-General John B. 
campaign in Western Virginia, 
44: the originator of the con- 
scription, 52. 

Fort Steadman — see General R. E. 
Lee. 

Frazier''s Farm — see Peninsular 
campaign, 

Fredericksburg, city occupied by 
Confederate army, 303 ; nou- 



706 



INDEX. 



combatants sent away, 305 ; suf- 
ferings of the citizens, 306-311 ; 
bombardment of the city, 311. 
For events of the campaign, see 
General R. E, Lee, and Major- 
General Burnside, 
Freemantle, Lieutenant-Colonel, ac- 
count of the battle of Gettys- 
burg, 403. 



Garnett, Brigadier-General R. S., 
sent to Western Virginia, 41 ; 
establishes himself at Rich 
Mountain and Laurel Hill, 41 ; 
is attacked by McClellan, and 
defeated at Rich Mountain, 42 ; 
retreats from Laurel Hill, 43 ; 
killed at Carrick's Ford, 43. 
Gettysburg campaign ; reasons for 
entering upon it, 368 ; condition 
of the Confederate army, 369 ; 
Lee moves to the Potomac, 371 ; 
capture of Winchester and Mar- 
tinsburg, 376 ; invasion of Penn- 
sylvania, 379 ; Jenkins' raid 
upon Chambersburg, 379 ; Penn- 
sylvanians refuse to defend their 
State, 380 ; Confederate army 
enters Pennsylvania, 381 ; con- 
duct of the Southerners, 381 ; 
Hooker follows Lee, 384 ; suc- 
ceeded by General Meade, 385 ; 
both armies move to Gettys- 
burg, 387 ; battle of Gettysburg, 
387 ; Lee retreats to the Poto- 
mac, 406 ; Meade pursues, 403 ; 
Lee's masterly retreat, 407 ; 
Confederates retire into Vir- 
ginia, 409. 
Grant, Ivieutenant-General Ulysses 
S., character, 449; appointed 



to the command of the armies 
of the United States, 449 ; re- 
organizes the Army of the Poto- 
mac, 450; takes the field in 
Virginia, 450 ; plan of opera- 
tions, 451; crosses the Rapidan, 
451 ; battle of the Wilderness, 
453; moves to Spottsylvania 
CourtHouse, 465 ; attacks Lee, 
468 ; moves to the North Anna 
River, 476 ; foiled by Lee, 477 ; 
marches to the Chickahominy, 
479 ; second battle of Cold Har- 
bor, 482 ; correspondence with 
General Lee regarding flags of 
truce, 489 ; failure of the cam- 
paign, 490; letter to General 
Butler, 493 ; crosses the James 
River, 503; attacks Petersburg 
and is repulsed, 506 ; lays siege 
to Petersburg, 610 ; cavalry 
raid, 512 ; mine explosion, 515 ; 
movements north and south of 
the James, 521 ; capture of Fort 
Harrison, 530 ; letter to General 
Lee, 537 ; movement against 
the South Side Railroad, 538; 
expedition to Bellfield, 542 ; 
sends troops to Washington, 
545 ; occupies the Valley of 
Virginia, 547 ; orders Sheridan 
to desolate the Valley, 559 ; 
letter to General Lee, 578; 
preparations for the spring 
campaign, 592 ; plan of opera- 
tions, 593 ; the movement be- 
gun, 596 ; assails Lee's right, 
598; battle of Five Forks, 601 ; 
last attack on Petersburg, 604 ; 
pursues Lee to Appomattox 
Court House, 615; correspond- 
ence with General Lee relating to 



INDEX. 



707 



surrender, 626; generosity to 
the Confederates, 634. 



Hampton, Lieutenant-General Wade, 
captures cattle at Sycamore 
Church, 528 — sec General R. 
E. Lee. 

Halleck, Major-General, H.W.— See 
Major-Generals McClellan and 
Hooker — letters to General 
Lee, 641, 645. 

Harper's Ferry — See General R.. 
E. Lee ; also Lieutenant-Gen- 
eral T. J. Jackson. 

Harrison's Landing — see Peninsular 
campaign. 

Hill, Lieutenant-General A. P., con- 
duct in battles around Rich- 
mond—see Peninsular campaign ; 
made Lieutenant-General, 279 ; 
death, 607. 

Hill, Lieutenant-General D. H., en- 
gages in battles around Rich- 
mond — see Peninsular cam- 
paign ; loses General Lee's or- 
ders at Frederick, 251 ; made 
Lieutenant-General, 279. 

Hooker, Major-General Joseph, ap- 
pointed to command the Army 
of the Potomac, 336 ; character, 
337 ; vigorous measures, 337 ; 
reorganizes his army, 338 ; ad- 
vances to Chancellorsville, 341; 
plan of operations, 342 ; errors 
in its execution, 344; fortifies 
at Chancellorsville, 346; battle 
of Chancellorsville, 347 ; battles 
of Marye's and Salem Heights, 
359-361 ; retreats across the 
Rappahannock, 363 ; failure of 
the cavalry expedition, 366; 



statement of the strength of his 
army. May 1863, 371 ; outgen- 
eraled by Lee, 372 ; battle of 
Brandy Station, 372; retreats 
to the Potomac, 877 ; follows 
Lee into Maryland, 384 ; quar- 
rel with general Halleck, 385 ; 
relieved of liis command, 385. 

Imboden, Brigadier-General John 
D. ; attacks Charlestown, 421. 



Jackson, Lieutenant-General Thomas 
J. ; takes command at Harper's 
Ferry, 37 ; relieved by General 
J. E. Johnston, 37 ; campaign 
in the Valley, 109 ; ordered to 
Richmond, 122; mai'ches for 
Cold Harbor, 128; checked at 
"White Oak Swamp, 152; de- 
feats Banks at Cedar Run, 195 ; 
march to Manassas, 206 ; criti- 
cal situation, 213; enters Mary- 
land, 236: accident to, 237 
captures Harper's Ferry, 243 
made Lieutenant-General, 279 
attacks Hooker's right at Chan- 
cellorsville, 349 ; is wounded, 
352 : death, 364. 

Jackson, Brigadier-General Henry 
R., defeats General Reynolds at 
Greenbrier River, -18. 



James River, left defenceless in May 
1862, 93 ; Federal gunboats as- 
cend the river, 93 — see Penin- 
sular campaign : see, also. Gen- 
eral K. E. Lee. 

Janney, John, address of welcome to 
General Lee, 33. 



708 



INDEX. 



Johnston, General Joseph E., takes 
command of the army at Harp- 
er's Ferry, 37 ; eludes Patter- 
son in the Valley, and marches 
to Manassas Junction, 40 5 de- 
feats McDowell at IManassas, 
40; advances to Mason's and 
Munson's Hills, 40 ; his army 
weakened by injudicious fur- 
loughs, 55 ; reorganizes his 
army, 55 ; statements concern- 
ing the condition of his army 
after the battle of Manassas, 56 ; 
he blockades the Potomac, 56 ; 
disposition of his forces, 57 ; 
embarrassed by the weakness of 
the Government, 67 ; disadvan- 
tages under which his army was 
organized, 59-60 ; proposes an 
aggressive campaign, but the 
meastu'e is defeated by Mr. 
Davis, 7i ; evacuates Centre- 
ville, and retreats behind the 
Rapidan, 73 ; transfers his army 
to the Peninsula, 76 ; arrives at 
Yorktown, 83 ; determines to 
evacuate the Peninsula, 86 ; re- 
treats from Yorktown, 87 ; re- 
pulses McClellan at Williams- 
burg and Eltham's Landing, 90- 
92 ; retires behind the Chicka- 
hominy, 96 ; resolves to attack 
McClellan, 98 ; battle of Seven 
Pines, 98; letter from, 105; 
wounded at Seven Pines, 102. 

Kelley's Ford— fight at, 339. 

Lee Family, the, history of, 9. 
Lee, General Henry, sketch of his 
life, 13. 



Lee, General Robert Edward, birth, 
15 ; early life, 15 ; Enters West 
Point Academy, 15 ; appointed 
Lieutenant in United States 
army, 16 ; employed as assist- 
ant astronomer, 16 ; marries 
Mary Custis, 16 ; children ])y 
this marriage, 16 ; promotions 
as First Lieutenant and Captain 
of Engineers, 16 ; member of 
the Board of Visitors to West 
Point, 16 ; ordered to Mexico 
as Chief Engineer, under Gen- 
eral Wool, 17 ; conduct at the 
siege of Vera Cruz, 17 ; takes 
part in the battle of Cerro 
Gordo, 18 ; complimentary no- 
tice by General Scott, 19 ; nar- 
row escape from capture by the 
Mexicans, 19 ; engages in the 
battles before the city of Mexico, 
20 J wounded at Chapultepec, 
23 ; promotions as Major and 
Lieutenant-Colonel, 23 ; ap- 
pointed Superintendent of the 
West Point Academy, 23 ; ser- 
vices at West Point, 23 ; com- 
missioned Lieutenant-Colonel in 
the Second Cavalry, 24 ; ser- 
vices in Texas, 24 ; sent to put 
down the John Brown Hebel- 
llon at Harper's Ferry, 25 ; re- 
turns to Texas, 26 ; views with 
regard to secession, 28; urged 
to remain in the Federal service, 
29 ; offered the command of 
the United States army, 29 ; 
resigns his commission, 30; 
letter to General Scott, 30; 
letter to his sister, 31 ; repairs 
to Richmond, 32 ; appointed to 
the chief command of the Vir- 



INDEX. 



709 



ginia forces, 32 ; reception by 
the Convention, 33 ; speech be- 
fore the Convention, 35 ; organ- 
izes the Virginia forces, 35 ; 
commissioned General in the 
Confederate Army, 36 ; his 
■willingness to serve in any ca- 
pacity, 36 ; sends troops to 
Western Virginia, 40 ; takes 
command of the army in West- 
ern Virginia, 45 ; moves towards 
Cheat Monntain, 45 ; plan of 
attack on Cheat Mountain, 46 ; 
failure of the movement, 47 ; 
criticism upon the Cheat Moun- 
tain affair, 47 ; leaves for Sewell 
Mountain, 47 ; awaits attack 
from Rosecranz, 47 ; sent to the 
Southern coast, 48 ; fortifier 
the exposed points along the 
coast, 49 ; made Commanding 
General of the Armies of the 
Confederacy, 49 ; opinion of 
the discipline of his army, 56 ; 
advises the evacuation of York- 
town, 86 ; present at the battle 
of Drewry's Bluff, 95 ; takes 
command of the Ai-my of North- 
em Virginia, 106 ; relieved of 
the chief command of the Con- 
federate States Armies, 106 ; 
exertions to bring troops to 
Richmond, 106 ; order respect- 
ing passports, 107 ; his appoint- 
ment not a popular measure at 
first, 107 ; views regarding the 
situation of affairs at Richmond, 
108 ; strength of his army, 112 ; 
sends Stuart to reconnoiu-e the 
Federal position, 113; congrat- 
ulatory order relating to Stuart's 
reconnoissance, 119; resolves. 



to attack McClellan, 121 ; his 
plan of operations, 122 ; brings 
Jackson's army to Richmond, 
122 ; confidential order, stating 
plan of campaign, 123; attacks 
^McClellan at Mechanicsville, 
129; battle of Cold Harbor, 
134 ; remarks on the division of 
the army, 134 ; dispatch to the 
President, 143 ; his plan to in- 
tercept McClellan's retreat, 145 ; 
battle of Savage Station, 149 ; 
accompanies Longstreet's divi- 
sion to Frazier's Farm, 154 ; 
battle of Frazier's Farm, 155 ; 
plan of attack at Malvern Hill, 
159; battle of Malvern Hill. 
160 ; fails to follow up McCloi- 
lan to Han-ison's Landing, 1G2 ; 
explanation of the escape of the 
Federal army, 165 ; order relat- 
ing to the campaign, 167 ; 
anxious to draw McClellan away 
from James River, 171 ; com- 
municates the Confederate or- 
der of retaliation to the Federal 
Government, 189 ; also, G39 ; 
sends Jackson's coi-ps to Gor- 
donsville, 194; moves his army 
to the Rapidan, 200 ; plan to 
defeat Pope's ai-my, 201 ; fol- 
lows Pope to the Rappahannock, 
202; plan of operations against 
General Pope's army, 207; suc- 
cess of the movements, 220 ; 
second battle of Manassas, 222 ; 
battle of Ox Hill, 227 ; letter to 
General Pope, 229; letter to 
President Davis, 230 ; injured 
by a fall, 232; resolves to in- 
vade INIaryland, 235 ; infiuenee 
over the troops, 238 ; proclama- 



710 



INDEX. 



tion to the people of Maryland, 
239 ; his plan of the campaign, 
241 ; remarks concerning strag- 
gling, 241; resolves to capture 
Harper's Ferry, 242 ; capture of 
Harper's Ferry, 245 ; his plan 
of the campaign altered by un- 
toward events, 253 ; confidential 
order to General D. H. Hill, 
251 ; battle of South Mountain, 
254 ; battle of Sharpsburg, 260 ; 
retires into Virginia, 272 ; or- 
der relating to the Maryland 
campaign, 274 ; efforts to pro- 
cure shoes and clothing for the 
army, 276 ; advocates making 
Confederate notes a legal ten- 
der, 281; orders General Lor- 
ing to the Valley, 283 ; declines 
to send troops to James River, 
283 ; official report of cavalry 
fight near Shepherdstown, 285; 
letter of instructions to General 
Stuart concerning the Pennsyl- 
vania expedition, 286 ; dispatch 
announcing Stuart's return, 294 ; 
moves to Culpepper Court House 
to meet McClellan, 297 ; confi- 
dent of his ability to baffle Mc- 
Clellan, 298 ; opinion of the 
cavalry, 298 ; statement respect- 
ing the condition of the army 
horses, 298 ; detects Burnside's 
movement to Fredericksburg, 
301; dispatch to the War De- 
partment, 302 ; moves to Fred- 
ericksburg, 303 ; fortifies his 
position, 304 ; agrees to refrain 
from occupying Fredericksburg 
unless the Federals attempt to 
do so, 305 ; advises the removal 
of non-combatants from the 



city, 305 ; opinion of the people 
of Fredericksburg, 306 ; battle 
of Fredericksburg, 308 ; ap- 
pearance during the battle, 315 ; 
dispatch to the War Depart- 
ment, 319 ; decides not to attack 
Burnside, 319 ; dispatches to 
the War Department, 321, 322 ; 
address to the army at the close 
of the year 1862, 325 ; appeal 
to the Government to provide 
shoes for the troops, 326 ; his 
mode of living, 327 ; efforts to 
procure better artillery, 329; 
urges the Government to im- 
press breadstuffs, 329 ; detects 
Burnside's " mud march," 333 ; 
advises the Government to ap- 
peal to the people to supply the 
army with food, 334 ; proposes 
to invite the cooperation of 
State authorities in raising troops 
334; announces theopeniugof the 
spring campaign, 335 ; prepares 
to meet Hooker, 340 ; sends 
Jackson's corps to Chancellors- 
ville, 344 ; arrives on the field, 
345 ; accepts Jackson's plan of 
battle, 347 ; attacks Hooker's 
front to cover Jackson's flank 
march, 347 ; grief upon being 
informed of the wounding of 
General Jackson, 354 ; note to 
General Jackson, 355 ; resolves 
to drive Hooker across the Rap- 
pahannock, 357 ; dispatch to 
President Davis, 358 ; plan to 
dispose of Sedgwick, 360 ; bat- 
tle of Salem Heights, 361 ; dis- 
patches to President Davis, 362, 
363; forces Hooker to retreat 
across the river, 363 ; order an- 



INDEX. 



7U 



nouncing the death of General 
Jackson, 3G4 ; address to the 
army, 365 ; urges the Govern- 
ment to brhig the cavalry along 
the Atlantic coast to Virginia, 
366 ; opposes sending troops 
from his army to Mississippi, 
369 ; visits Richmond, and ar- 
ranges the plan for the second 
invasion of the North, 369 ; 
moves towards the Potomac, 
371 5 dispatch announcing Stu- 
art's victory at Brandy Station, 
373 ; dispatches announcing 
Ewell's victories, 376 ; orders 
his army to respect the persons 
and property of citizens of the 
United States, 381 ; address to 
the army, 382 ; efforts to keep 
open his communications, 384 ; 
moves to Gettysburg, and his 
object In doing so, 386 ; decides 
not to follow up the success of 
the first day at Gettysburg, 391 ; 
reasons for fighting the battle, 
393; battle of July 2d, 395; 
decides to renew the attack on 
the 3d of July, 399 ; plan of 
battle, 400 ; ralHes the troops 
after the repulse of the attack 
upon Cemetery Ridge, 403 ; his 
noble words to General Wilcox, 
404 ; decides to retreat to Vir- 
ginia, 405 ; effects his retreat to 
the Potomac successfully, 407 ; 
letter to General Cooper con- 
cerning Federal statements re- 
specting the campaign, 409 ; 
address to the army, 410; 
retires to the Rappahannock, 
412 ; his firm hold on the confi- 
dence of the army and people, 



412; order concerning Fast 
Day, 413 ; grants furloughs to 
the troops, 414 ; forces Meade 
back to Centre ville, 415; re- 
tires to the Rappahannock, 422 ; 
goes Into winter quarters be- 
hind the Rapidan, 424 ; detects 
Meade's movement u])on Mine 
Run, 426 ; address to the army, 
426 ; dispatches to the War 
Department, 429-430 ; efforts 
to procure food for the army, 
432 ; appeal to the troops to 
endure their sufferings with for- 
titude, 434 ; his flire, 434 ; offers 
furloughs to such troops as can 
procure recruits, 441 ; calls for 
more cavalry, 442 ; orders the 
observance of Fast Day, 442 ; 
declines the present of a house 
from the citizens of Richmond, 
443 ; prepares for the spring 
campaign, 447 ; plan to defeat 
the army of General Grant, 453 ; 
attacks Grant in the Wilder- 
ness, 455 ; narrow escape dur- 
ing the battle, 457 ; dispatch to 
the War Department, 458 ; de- 
cides to assume the offensive, 
459 ; touching instance of the 
devotion of his army, 461 ; dan- 
gerous position during the bat- 
tle, 462 ; dispatches to tlie 
Government, 463 ; moves to 
Spottsylvania Court House and 
baffles Grant, 466 ; dispatches 
to the Government, 466-468- 
471-474-475 ; foils Grant at the 
North Anna River, 476 ; dis- 
patches to the War Department, 
477—478 ; confronts Grant on 
the Chickahominy, 481 ; the sec- 



712 



INDEX. 



ond battle of Cold Harbor, 482; 
dispatches to the Government, 
484-487; . requires General 
Grant to ask permission to bury 
his dead, 489 ; sends Eai-ly's 
corps to Lynchburg, 492 ; 
moves to the James River, 502 ; 
dispatches to the War Depart- 
ment, 502-503-504 ; inability 
to jjrevent Grant from crossing 
the James River, o04 ; marches 
to the relief of Petersburg, 508 ; 
dispatches to the President, 
509 ; letter to Lieut. -General 
Anderson, 508 ; foils Grant's 
effort to turn his right, 611; 
dispatches to the Government, 
511-512-513-514-515; baffles 
the attempt to carry the works 
at Deep Bottom, 518 ; the mine 
explosion, 519 ; battle at Deep 
Bottom, 523 ; views respecting 
the Weldon Railroad, 524 ; ef- 
forts to retain possession of it, 
525 ; dispatches to the Govern- 
ment, 527-528-529; loss of 
Fort Harrison, 530 ; dispatches 
to the Government, 530-531 ; 
correspondence with General 
Grant concerning prisoners 
placed under fire, 532 ; defeats 
another attempt to turn his 
right, 538 ; dispatches to the 
Government, 539-540; further 
movements on the right, 541 ; 
dispatches to the War Depart- 
ment, 541-543 ; directs General 
Early to invade Maryland, 544 ; 
his expectations from this move- 
ment, 544 ; reinforces Early in 
the Valley, 548 ; reasons for this 
step, 548, dispatch to the War 



Department, 556 ; letter to 
General Early, 566 ; urges the 
Government to collect reserves 
of provisions, 588 ; declares 
that the conscription is dimin- 
ishing his army, 571 ; views as 
to desertion, 572 ; rebuked by 
the President, 573 ; views con- 
cerning the arming of the 
slaves, 574; correspondence 
with General Grant respecting 
negotiations for peace, 577 ; the 
only public man possessing the 
confidence of the nation, 580 ; 
desire to make him dictator, 
581 ; Mr. Davis' statements of 
Gen. Lee's views respecting the 
office of Conmiandlng-General, 
581 ; fi'Iendship for the Presi- 
dent 582 ; made Commander-in- 
Chief of the armies of the Con- 
federacy, 583 ; order upon as- 
suming the command, 584 ; 
opinion as to the condition of 
the South in February 1865, 
586 ; determines to retreat 
southward, 587 ; plan of ope- 
rations, 587 ; attack on Fort 
Steadman 588 ; dispatch to the 
Government, 590 ; plan to de- 
feat Grant's attempt against his 
right, 598 ; dispatch to the War 
Department, 598 ; critical situa- 
tion of the army, 601 ; indigna- 
tion at the conduct of the troops 
at Five Forks, 603 ; battles of 
Five Forks and Petersburg, 604 ; 
evacuates Richmond and Peters- 
burg, 608 ; plan of operations 
during the retreat, 616 ; failure 
of the plan, 617 ; retreats 
towards Lynchburg, 618; suf- 



INDEX. 



7i; 



ferings of the army, CIS ; opin- 
ion as to a surrender of the 
army, 624 ; correspondence 
with General Grant respecting 
the surrender of the army, 62G- 
627 ; surrender at Appomattox 
Court House, 630 ; interview 
with General Grant, 631 ; last 
meeting with the troops, 634; 
address to the army, 635 ; re- 
turns to Richmond, 636 ; his re- 
ception there, 637 ; report of 
the second campaign in North- 
ern Virginia, 664 ; report of the 
Gettysburg campaign, 668 ; in- 
auguration as President of 
"Washington College, 680; evi- 
dence before the Congressional 
Committee, 682. 

Lee, Major-General, William Henry 
Fitzhugh, takes part in Stuart's 
reconnoisance, 113 ; letter from, 
concerning Confederate States 
Cavalry, 647. 

Lee, Major-General, Fitz, takes part 
in Stuart's reconnoisance, 113. 

Lincoln, President Abraham, inter- 
ference with General McClellan, 
69 ; appoints corps commanders 
for Army of the Potomac, 70 ; 
letter to General McDowell, 
110. 

Longstreet, Lieut-General James, at- 
tacks McClellan at Seven Pines, 
99 ; conduct in battfes around 
nichmond — see Peninsular cam- 
paign ; made Lieutenant-Gen- 
eral,279 ; sent to the South Side, 
334 ; sent to East Tennessee, 
414; wounded in the Wilder- 
ness, 460; appointed a commis- 
fiioner to arrange the details of 
90 



the surrender at Appomattox 
Court House, 633. 
Loring, Major-Gcneral W. insub- 
ordinate conduct of, 283. 



Magruder, Major-General John B., 
sent to the Peninsula, 77 ; oper- 
ations there in 1861 , 78 ; forti- 
fies his position, 79 ; heroic de- 
fence onoth, and 6th April 1862, 
81 ; reenforced by General 
Johnston, 83. For part in bat- 
tles around Richmond — see 
Peninsular campaign. 

Malvern Hill — see Peninsular cam- 
paign. 

Mansssas, battle of, 40 ; effect upon 
the' South, 52 ; capture of by 
Jackson, 210 ; second battle of 
218. 

Maryland, campaign in — see Gen- 
eral R. E. Lee, also Major-Gen- 
eral G. B. McClellan; I\Iary- 
landers treated as friends, 237 ; 
address to people of the State 
239 ; explanation of the conduct 
of the people, 240; Confeder- 
ates leave the State, 272. 

IMaryland Heights — see Harper's 
Ferry. 

McClellan, Major-General George 
B., appointed to command the 
department of the Ohio, 42; 
invades Western Virginia, 42 ; 
defeats Garnett at Rich IMoun- 
tain, 42 ; transferred to the Ar- 
my of the Potomac, 63 ; estimate 
of his character, 63 ; reorgan- 
izes the Army of the Potomac, 
64 ; remains inactive during the 
fall of 1861, 66; his views oq 



714 



INDEX. 



the situation, 67 ; plan of opera- 
tions, 67 ; advances to Manas- 
sas, 73 ; returns to Washington, 
73 ; plan for campaign on the 
Peninsula, 75 ; error in choos- 
ing the move to the Peninsula, 
76 ; the transfer to the Penin- 
sula, 76 ; plan of operations 
against Yorktown, 80 ; attacks 
Magruder on the 5th and 6th 
April, and is repulsed, 81 ; lays 
siege to Yorktown, 83 ; calls for 
McDowell's corps, 84 ; his plan 
for a flank movement, 84 ; pur- 
sues the Confederate States' 
army up the Peninsula, 88 ; dis- 
patch to the War Department, 
89 ; battle of Williamsburg, 90 ; 
reaches the Chickaliominy, 96 ; 
defeats the Confederates at Han- 
over Coui't House, 97 ; throws 
his left wing across the Chicka- 
liominy, 97 ; defeated at Seven 
Pines, 98 ; lays siege to Rich- 
mond, 109 ; advances his picket 
line, June 25th, 126 ; faults of 
his position, 126 ; dispatch to 
the War Department, 128 ; bat- 
tle of Mechanicsville, 130 ; 
withdraws from Beaver Dam 
Creek to Cold Harbor, 133 ; 
battle of Cold Harbor, 137 ; re- 
tires across the Chickahominy, 
143 ; battle of Savage Station, 
149 ; the retreat to the James 
River, 150 ; battle of Fraizier's 
Farm, 153 ; battle of Malvern 
Hill, 158 ; retires to Harrison's 
Landing, 161 ; plan for a cam- 
paign on James River, 170 ; oc- 
cupies Coggin's Point, 172 ; 
evacuates the Peninsula, 174; 



assigned to command defences at 
Washington, 249 ; reorganizes 
and takes command of Pope's 
array, 249 ; marches to meet Lee, 
250 ; finds Lee's plan of campaign 
at Frederick, 251 ; battle of 
South Mountain, 253; battle of 
Sharpsburg, 259 ; pursues Lee 
to the Potomac, 273 ; battle of 
Shepherdstown, 274 ; plan for 
fall campaign, 1862, 295 ; enters 
Virginia, 297 ; removed from the 
command of the Army of the 
Potomac, 299 ; close of his ca- 
reer, 299. 

Meade, Major-General Geo. G. 
takes command of the Army of 
the Potomac, 385 ; character, 
385 ; moves to Gettysburg, 
387 ; battle of Gettysburg, 387 ; 
pursues Lee to the Potomac, 
406 ; fails to attack Lee at Wil- 
liamsport, 408 ; error concern- 
ing prisoners taken from Lee, 
409 ; crosses the Potomac in 
pursuit of Lee, 411; army 
weakened, 415 ; falls back to 
Centreville, 416 ; fight at Bris- 
toe Station, 420 ; returns to the 
Rappahannock, 423 ; Mine Run, 
424 ; order for march of ai-my, 
452. 

Mechanicsville — see Peninsular cam- 
paign. 

Mexico, war with, 16. 

Mine Run — see Major-General 
Meade. 

" Mud March," the — see Major- 
General Burnside. 



Negro troops, eflForts to procure 



INDEX. 



715 



tlieor, 573 ; General Lee's views 
respecting tbcm, 57-i. 

Northrop, Colonel L. B., appointed 
Commissary General of the Con- 
federate States, 58 ; his history, 
58 ; Incompetent to discharge 
his duties, 58 ; sustained by the 
President, 59 ; opposes General 
Lee's plan to procure food for 
the army, 334 ; criminal mis- 
management of the affairs of his 
department, 432 ; hated by the 
South and sustained by the Pres- 
ident, 441 ; starves the army, 
568 ; condition of the Commis- 
sariat in December 1864, 569; 
resigns his office, 573. 

Overland campaign, the — see Gen- 
efal II- E. Lee, also Lieutenant- 
General U. S. Grant. 



Peninsula, the — description of, 77. 

Peninsular campaign, Magruder sent 
to the Peninsula, 77 ; his move- 
ments during the fall and winter 
of 1861, 78; lines of defence 
constructed by him, 78 ; strength 
of Magruder's army, 79 ; Fed- 
ei'al army advances from Fort 
Monroe, 80 ; reconnoissances of 
the 5th and 6th April, 1862, 81 ; 
the siege of Yorktown, 83 ; 
fight at Dam No. 1, 84; suffer- 
ings of the Confederate troops, 
85 ; weakness of the Confeder- 
ate position on the Peninsula, 
86 ; evacuation of Yorktown, 
87; McClellan pursues, 88; 
battle of Williamsburg, 90 ; bat- 
tle of Eltham's Landing, 92 ; 
the retreat to the Chickahominy, 



92 ; James River left defence- 
less, 93 ; desti'uction of the 
steamer Virginia, 93; United 
States' gunboats ascend James 
River, 93 ; battle of Drewry's 
Bluff, 95 ; Confederate and Fed- 
eral armies on the Chickahomi- 
ny, 96 ; battle of Hanover Court 
House, 97 ; Federal left wing 
crosses the Chickahominy, 97 ; 
battle of Seven Pines, 98 ; Gen- 
eral Lee takes command of the 
array, 106 ; positions of the 
armies, 111-112; Stuart's re- 
connoissance, 113; Jackson or- 
dered to Richmond, 122 ; fight 
on 25 th June. 126 ; Lee decides 
to attack the Federal army, 126 ; 
battle of Mechanicsville, 130 ; 
McClellan Avithdraws to Cold 
Harbor, 133 ; battle of Cold 
Harbor, 137 ; IMcClellan re- 
treats across the Clilckahorainy, 
143 ; movements on the 28th 
and 29th June, 144; battle of 
Savage Station, 149 ; the retreat 
to the James River, 150 ; Stuart 
sent to the White House, 146 ; 
the Confederate army pursues, 
150 ; battle of Frazier's Farm, 
153; battle of Malvern Hill, 
158 ; McClellan retreats to Har- 
rison's Landing, 161 ; failure of 
Confederates to pursue, 163 ; 
Federal transports fired on in 
James River, 164; reflections 
on the campaign, 165; losses in 
the two armies, 166; advan- 
tages of Federal position on 
James River, 170; Lee's efforts 
to di'aw McClellan away, 171 ; 
affair at Coggin's Point 172 ; 



716 



INDEX. 



Federals advance to Malvern 
Hill, 173; the Federal army 
evacuates the Peninsula, 174; 
Lee moves to the Rapidan, 200. 

Petersburg — see General R. E. 
Lee. 

Pope, Major-General John, takes 
command of the Army of Vir- 
ginia, 176 ; character of, 176 ; 
his boastfulness, 176 ; bombastic 
address to his army, 178 ; infa- 
mous orders, 179, 180-182, 183- 
189 ; outrages of his army, 185 ; 
defeated at Cedar Run, 195 ; 
advances to the Rapidan, 200 ; 
retreats behind the Rappahan- 
nock, 201 ; private baggage and 
order book captured by Stuart, 
206 ; plan to destroy Jackson's 
corps, 212 ; errors in its execu- 
tion, 216 ; marches to Manassas, 
217; second battle of Manassas, 
218 ; misstatement of facts con- 
cerning the battles, 220 ; battle 
of Ox Hill, 227 ; letter to Gen- 
eral Lee, 229 ; Pope defeated at 
all points with heavy loss, 229. 

Porterfield, Colonel G. A., sent to 
Western Virginia by General 
Lee, 40 ; defeated at Phillppi, 41. 

Potomac River, — see General R. E. 
Lee. 

Rapidan River — see Gen. R. E. Lee. 
Rappahannock River — see General 

R. E. Lee. 
Richmond — see General R. E. Lee ; 

evacuation of 608 ; occupation 

by Federals, 613. 

Savage Station — see Peninsular cam- 
paign. 



Salem Heights — see General R. E. 
Lee. 

Scott, General Winfield, compliment- 
ary notices of Captain R. E. 
Lee, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22; 
urges Colonel Lee to remain in 
the Federal service, 29 ; letter 
from Colonel Lee to him, 30. 

Secession of the States of the South, 
27. 

Sedgwick, Major-General, carries 

* Marye's Heights, 359 ; defeated 
at Salem Heights, and driven 
across the Rappahannock, 361 ; 
killed at Spottsylvania Court 
House, 469. 

Seven Pines, — see Peninsular cam- 
paign, 98. 

Sick, of the Confederate army: bad 
treatment of, 281. 

Sharpsburg — see General R. E. 
Lee: also Major-General Mc- 
Clcllan. 

Shepherdstown, battle of, 274, — see 
General R. E. Lee; cavalry fight 
at, 285. 

Sheridan, Major-General Philip, ap- 
pointed to command Meade's 
cavalry, 450 ; defeated by Wade 
Hampton at Trevylian's Depot, 
502 ; appointed to command the 
Federal army in the Valley, 548 ; 
character, 548 ; retreat from 
Front Royal, 550 ; ordered by 
Grant to assume the offensive, 
554 ; defeats Early at AVinches- 
ter, 554; battle of Fisher's Hill, 
556 ; lays waste the Valley, 557 ; 
ride from Winchester to Cedar 
Creek, 56 1 ; battle of Cedar 
Creek, 561 ; close of the cam- 
paign, 565 ; expedition to Lower 



INDEX. 



717 



Virginia, 591. For part in 
the final campaign see Lieuten- 
ant-General U. S. Grant. 

Smith, Major-General G. W., suc- 
ceeds to command of Army of 
Northern Virginia at Seven 
Pines, 102 ; relieved by Gen- 
eral Lee, 106. 

South ^Mountain — see General R. E. 
Lee. 

Spottsylvania Court House — see 
General R. E. Lee. 

Stuart, Major-General J. E. B., re- 
connoissance of McClellan's po- 
sition, 113 ; part in the battles 
around Richmond — see Penin- 
sular campaign ; captures Pope's 
headquarters at Catlett's Sta- 
tion, 204 ; expedition to Penn- 
sylvania, 286 ; commands Jack- 
son's corps at Chancellorsville, 
855 ; dangerous situation with 
his cavalry, 418 ; battle of the 
Yellow Tavern, 464 ; death, 464. 



Virginia, State secedes, 27, 36 ; first 
events of the war in Virginia, 
36 ; resolutions of the Legisla- 
ture, 94 ; sufferings of the peo- 
ple during Pope's campaign, 
185 ; resolutions of the Legis- 
lature, asking that General Lee 



be made Commander-in-Chief, 
581. 

Virginia, C. S., war steamer — see 
Peninsular campaign. 

Valley of Virginia, campaign in 
490. For the remainder of the 
events in the Valley, see Lieu- 
tenant-General J. A. Early. 

Warrenton, — Springs — Junction — 
see General R. E. Lee. 

Wilderness, battle of — see General 
R. E. Lee. 

Westover — see Peninsular cam- 
paign. 

West Point, Military Academy at — 
see General R. E. Lee. 

West Point, Virginia — see Penin- 
sular campaign. 

Western Virginia, campaign in, 40- 
43; movements of Generals 
Wise and Floyd, 44; General 
Lee goes to West Virginia, 
45 ; affair at Cheat Mountain, 
46 ; affairs at Sewell Mountain, 
47. 

White House — see Peninsular cam- 
paign. 

Winder, Brigadier-General John H. 
bad conduct at Richmond, 107. 

Yorktown, siege of — see Peninsu- 
lar campaign. 



AGEIffTS VtrAMr'TXSD. 



No business pays so well as an agency for popular Histories 
and Biographies, for they are the class of books that every intel- 
ligent person wants, and is alv^ays ready to buy. The only dif- 
ficulty in the matter is to secure a I^OrVLAM SERIES 
OF HOOKS, and such pre-eminently are the works that we 
are now publishing. No series published will compare with them 
in real value, interest and poioularity. 

We are the most extensive publishers in the United States, 
(having live houses,) and therefore can afford to sell books 
cheaper and pay agents a more liberal commission than anyother 
compan}'. 

Our books do not pass through the hands of General Agents, 
(as nearly all other subscription works do,) therefore we are en- 
abled to give our canvassers the extra per cent, which is usually 
allowed to General Agents. Experienced canvassers will see the 
advantages of dealing directly v/itli the publishers. 

[J^p^ By engaging in this business yoimg men will EDIT' 
CjLTE themseves in that knowledge of the country, and of men 
and things, which is acquired only b}^ traveling and observation 
— a knowledge which is recognized by all as essential to every 
business. 

Old agents, and all others who want the BEST I*AYIIfG 
AGEJ^CIESf will please send for circulars and see our terms, 
and compare them, and the character of our works, with those of 
other publishers. 

Address, NATIONAL PUBLISHING CO, 

At either of the following Places, (whichever is nearest to you;) 

r'ranlilin IJiiilcling-, A^tlanta, Ga. 

Jfo. 3 Caronclelet Jr»t., ]Vc-\v Oi'lcaiis, JLiO,, 

14.S TVest Foitrtli Ht.. Cincinnati, Olilo. 

GOy 3rinoi' ^trc«t, I'liila.cleli>liia, I?a., ox* 

Cox'. Tlilrtl and. X»ex*x*y Sts., l>a-venpox't, Io-»Ta. 



kPy^^e^t 



* -p. 



> 



<^- 



^^ 



2 " x ->, c, 



->. ~^^' 



N , -t- 



,0- 



\^^' 









v5 "^z- 



-/ V 



^'^r .V^" 

^'•V 

.^% 



.^^ 



■-^^ v"^ '"^ ' '«* ^^ "'^ 



i" -,- 






^^^> -^z. 



A^^ <■ 









aV 





. ^<^ >^^ ^ 




^^ °^. ^ 


o:^' 





.-^^ 






